
FLS 

2014 

017236 


LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 









O'' 

®«® 4 ^ ^ *' 

- ^“v h\ 

^ V • 




0" o 


O. • s * A 
' J'fr ‘* 



<0 ^tv 

^*’^0^ V *0-0 

o df?^ ♦Voi^'. <^. 




* V 




o 
* 

A ® 

^ ^ O 





.&>' 

O^ - 0 » • * - w / j» 


< 

* A. o 

r O 





«• ^ 4 **^ •« 




<0 * 


V 



P M'O 




A 9i m ^ 


t « A 








• v^;/ . . . . *o. 

•' %/ ■'^*- \/ •■' '• 

^ ^ ^ ,'4 

< V ^Kt» 

» <>^ ^ ^ 





; ■'O' 

* "V ^ ”. 

o ♦v'TTT'' A <* 'o.» 

0‘ o®JL*»- o. 4,“2^ 


^ V 








4 












\ 


* 

j\ - 

f 


\ 


!( 


/ 


/ 


I 

\ 


\ 


I 



N 


1 


I 




■■■ ■( 


\ 

i ’V 


( 


\ 


<t 



f 


gleanings. 


A BOOK FOR HOME AND HOLIDAY 
READING. 


By JAS. T. FRANKLIN. 

*/ 



MEMPHIS, TENN. : j -y 

Tracy Printing and Stanonery Co. / 

1893- 







* 

Latcrcd according to Act of Congress, in the year 1893, by 
JAMES T. FRANKLIN, 

hi the Ofhceof the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 




r 


CONTENTS 


Page. 

A Faded Flower 96 

A Wandering Heart -69 

Autumn 33 

Bride of the Skies ' 66 

Christ’s Whisper 74 

Christmas Bells 105 

Corrupted Ministry 38 

Dedication 5 

Disappointment 78 

Donated Flowers 80 

Dream of School 16 

Don’t Kiss 56 

Echoed Thoughts • 35 

Fate 99 

Grover Cleveland 44 

Ida Belle 36 

Introduction 9 

Jeff Davis 18 

Jealousy ’Mong the Flowers, 46 

King Autumn 94 

Kay Pulliam’s Gin 88 

Little Sue 13 


My Mother’s Grave 25 

Mattie 

Mud ■ 

“ Otto” 6^ 

Preface 7 

Queen of The Flowers 53 

School Life Ended 90 

Song of the Slave 61 

Solitude 23 

Thanatos 106 

The Clot of Blood 40 

The Earth and Moon 12 

The Flood 82 

.The Funny Man 93 

The Kind Reply loi 

The Last Snow 63 

The Model Queen 51 

The Nightingale of Song 72 

The Train of Life 1 1 

“ The Tigers and the Kids 29 

The Valentine 76 

The Weather 81 

Wayside Cream 58 

Voice of the National Cemetery 21 

PROSE EDITION. 

Sink, Sank and Sunk 109 

Judge Sparrow’s Court 112 

Tom Stitzleweed 117 

A Backwoods Story 133 

A Mid-Ocean Story 139 


DEDICATED TO 

LeMOYNE’S ALUMNI, 

In behalf of the Class of 1890. 


To you, beloved alumni, it affords me 
inexpressible pleasure in dedicating this 
book of poems, in behalf of my class, the 
Seven Stars of 1890. As a part of you, 
our hearts go out toward you, and we are 
bound with inseverable bonds of friend- 
ship. Our aim is as yours, that of doing 
good for God and our fellow-beings ; and 
may this spirit go round with the years, 
ever returning, weaving and subsidizing 
our souls into greater and better works, 
till the sacred silence of the tombs shall be 
broken by the anthem of praise, and halle- 
lujahs shall shake the gloom from dreary 
night as our spirits mount heavenward to 
assemble in that blest abode where angels 
shall extend the hand of greeting, and 
Christ, in divine eloquence, proclaim us 
welcome. 

Yours, 

Jas. T. Franklin. 



PREFACE. 


The contents of this book will doubtless 
be pleasing to its many readers, for its de- 
sign is to suit the old as well as the young. 
Although the author is young, yet he may 
be mentioned as a self made gentleman of 
culture, and a natural born poet. When he 
was only seventeen he composed a beauti- 
ful piece of poetry titled Rhyme on 
Home.” This was the introduction of his 
poetic career. Since he has been distin- 
guished not only as a lover, but as a com- 
poser of both prose and poetry. 

His second poem, ‘^The Wandering 
Heart,” composed during an evening’s 
walk, is said to have required only three 

minutes for its composition. 

A few months after he graduated, which 
was in June, 1890, he composed this work. 
He is not confined to one talent, but pos- 
sesses many, and, best of all, he has that 
hope in Christ, which he never forgets and 
walks according to his profession, which 
leaves a lasting Christian impression wher- 
ever he goes. 

Yours, 


Idelle Robinson. 



\ 


INTRODUCTION. 


Although I do not claim any place 
among the poets and great authors of to- 
day, yet I present to the public what it has 
pleased me to prepare ; and whether it is a 
worthy production, I leave it to the public 
to decide. This being the first effort of my 
life, and one which brings to me the 
pleasant memories of my school life and 
boyhood days, I ask the public to be not too 
hasty in condemning it. It is also well to 
say here, that the Mid-Day Gleanings 
will run through a series of volumes, which 
are now being prepared for the press. ‘ 
Each volume will contain a prose addition, 
which I hope will meet the hearty approval 
of all, as well as their just criticism. 

The Author. 



HlD-DJiy GlrEJlNINGS 


THE TRAIN OF LIFE, 


Out from a lonely station, 

Bound for Greed and Gain, 

A car went through creation 
Filled with people vain. 

And over hills and valleys, 

And over the level plain. 

Still rushing, crushing, pushing,. 
Onward went the train. 

Men of every station, 

In pleasure and pain, 

Left off their occupation 
And boarded the train. 

It stopped at every station — 
Nothing was the fee — 

Then hurried through creatioi^ 
Into eternity. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


^-£4 


Her brown eyes kept gazing, gazing, 
Where some cows were grazing, grazing, 
’Mid the falling dew ; 

And her voice kept calling, calling, 
'Thougli the dews were falling, falling, 
Soo cow ! Soo cow ! Soo ! 

Onward she went tripping, 

Though the weeds were dripping 
With the early dew ; 

'’Til a little daisy 
Asked, ‘‘Are you crazy. 

Pretty little Sue?” 

Then she hesitated. 

As the truth she stated 
With a stately bow : 

These my only troubles. 

Wandering o’er the stubbles 
Looking for the cow. 

Then under the larches, larches. 

Where the willow arches, arches. 

And the lilies bow, 

Ln the meadow yonder, yonder. 

Onward she would wander, wander. 
Looking for the cow. 

Her brown eyes kept gazing, gazing, 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


IS 


Where some cows were grazing, grazing, 
’Mid the falling dew; 

And her voice kept calling, calling. 
Though the dews were falling, falling, 
Soo cow 1 Soo cow ! Soo 1 

She told unto the vine 
That grew around the pine, 

Of her mission true ; 

And the bramble nodded. 

While onward she plodded, 

The same little Sue, 

When, only to plague her. 

Forward sprang old ague. 

And the fever, too ; 

Chased her to the dairy. 

Smote her with malaria, 

For wading the dew. 

How her face did pallor. 

As her cheeks grew sallow 
With every breath ; 

Until a shroud was cut. 

And her brown eyes were shut 
By the hands of death. 

And on the hilltop yonder, yonder. 
Where she used to wander, wander. 


i6 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


^Mid the falling dew, 

By the weeping willow, willow. 

Under cowslips yellow, yellow, 

Lieth little Sue. 

While under the larches, larches, 
Where the willow arches, arches. 

And the lilies bow. 

Homeward slowly plodding, plodding,, 
On the new grave trodding, trodding„ 
Slowly comes the cow. 


DREAM OF SCHOOL. 


While sleeping at my window,. 

In solemn hush of night, 

I dreamed the sun above me 
Did give a brilliant light. 

And bells were loudly ringing 
(Christmas now was o’er) 

And voices gaily singing. 

At dear LeMoyne once more. 

While children in the doorway. 
Preceptress on the stairs. 
Professor in the office. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


' 17 


Were busied with affairs. 

The teachers on the rostrum, 
And students, glad to meet 

With music mistress smiling, 
Quietly kept their seat. 

Accompanied by piano, 

Young ladies were singing 

In alto and soprano, 

Their merry voices ringing. 

Every heart elated, 

Intelligence in store, 

An interest created, 

In their text-books once more. 

The printing office open. 
Instructor in the door, 

Was waiting for professor 
To send the classes o^er. 

The students^in'the workshop 
Were busy with the saw ; 

The manager, complaining, 

Was trying to find a flaw. 

The day was gliding swiftly 


MID-DAV GLEANINGS. 


iS 


And birds began to flock ; 
The clock up in the steeple 
Had chimed out three o’clock. 

And then I was awakened 
By fry of steak sirloin, 

To find myself in Macon, 

Far from the dear LeMoyne. 


JEFF DAVIS, 

Ho, grim monster ! who art thou 
That hov’reth o’er my bed. 

With bony form and wrinkled brow, 
Like a spirit of the dead ? 

Back ! back ! stay thy bony hand ! 

Come not near my bed. 

I’m monarch of this Southern land, 
And lear not those from the dead. 
Hush I ” said the monster, hush, 
Let not an echo fly ; 

Thy cheek must lose its healthy blush, 
For I am death — die ! ” 

Thou art death ? then challenge me ; 
Thou can’st not stop my mouth. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


-I9> 


Not I, who quelled a raging sea 
And shook the Sunny South. 

Then back ! back ye goblin dim ! 
Withstay your falling sword ; 

’Twas I who crushed a Southern whim 
And saved a Southern horde. 

Then said the monster, I know, 

So raise your voice and cry ; 

Call in both your friend and foe. 

For I am death — die ! ’’ 

But wait, O death, consider fame. 
Regard immortal strife ; 

Behold what glory in a name. 

What happiness in life. 

Consider, too, that civil strife, 

In which my fame was spread, 

And how I conquered battlefields. 
And strew them o’er with dead. 

Then said the monster, “No more ! 
You cannot my sword defy; 

Try not my mercy to implore. 

For I am death — die ! ” 

But think ye of the war so long, 

I waged against the free. 

In which I hurled a million strong. 


20 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


Into vast eternity; 

And how I sustained the battlefield 
^Gainst a dangerous foe, 

And made the North almost to yield 
And let secession go. 

There bravely fought I, man to man. 
Made Richmond’s glory swell, 

And wielded I the magic wand 
Until her glory fell. 

Then said the monster, That is true. 

But I do these defy; 

Naught else for you there is to do 
But think of death, and die.” 

Then fell the sword that rent apart 
The body from the soul; 

Then ceased the flutt’ring of the heart, 
For he had reached the goal. 

His kinsman gathered to his side. 

The night-bird ceased its mirth ; 

* And friend and foe exclaimed, ‘‘ He died 
An alien in the land^of birth.” 

ii. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


21 


VOICE OF THE NATIONAL 
CE METER Y. 


O’er freedom’s land, a happy dawn 
Disperses every cloud, 

And o’er the victims, by victors drawn. 

Is the cold, bloody shroud ; 

And in thousands from the blood-washed 
field, 

And thousands from the sea, 

Dropping the bayonet, sword and shield, 
Come plodding home to me; 

While open throw I every door 
To satisfy their crave, 

And I welcome all, both rich and poor. 

If they are of the brave. 

Within my walls, ’mong cedars tall, 

’Mong flowers white and red. 

Among the tombstones the shadows fall 
Quietly o’er the dead ; 

And the wandering clouds, in sunlight 
shrouds, 

O’erspread the soldiers’ home. 

While through my gateway great thronging 
crowds. 

At my swift bidding come; 

But let them come, and here let them rest. 


22 MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


No trouble o’er them wave ; 

For very soon they will be my guest, 

If they are of the brave. 

A great Necropolis am I made, 

A palace for the brave, 

With only a pickaxe and a spade, 

I am changed into a grave. 

In corridor damp and mouldered cell, 
Lieth the honored head ; 

And he who ’mong bravest warriors fell. 
Lies here among the dead. 

E’en he who the Union flagstaff bore. 
When flags had ceased to wave, 

Threw off the uniform that he wore 
And came to join the brave. 

The bravest defenders of the right, 

The captains of the sea. 

Who waged the battle and won the fight, 
Are resting here with me. 

Where funeral knells and tolling bell. 
And palace under ground. 

In corridors damp and mouldered cells 
Their bodies there are found. 

With pillows of stone, an earthen bed, 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


23 


A sleep that nature gave, 

A sheet of grass, and a flowered spread, 
Bid honor to the brave. 


SOLITUDE 


^Mong lonely hills and silent dells, 
Where sunlight faintly gleams, 

Without companion, nature dwells. 
And so beautiful she seems. 

I love her, her plains most arid, 

For her home is solitude; 

To me a tongue speaks she varied 
And presents a scene most rude. 

On the one hand is nature’s plain 
And vastness of solitude ; 

While on the other, hills serene 
Stand out in magnitude. 

Behind me is the forest dark, 
Traversed by shadowy vale ; 

And before me the brooklet — hark ! 
How solemn is its tale. 


The leaflets all, I know not why. 


24 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


Happiness to me tender ; 

While far off in the bright blue sky, 

The sunbeams dance in splendor. 

Through tree tops howl the savage wind, 
'Mong branches leaps the squirrel : 

In silence do the brooklets wend, 

And into an abyss hurl. 

The golden rod and buttercup 
Perfume all the misty vale, 

While little bees the honey sup 
And the rich perfume inhale. 

The mocking bird sends up its trill. 

And loudly the owlet cries; 

From out the woods the whippoorwill 
In quivering notes replies. 

While humming-birds and butterflies 
’Round the blooming red-bud tree. 

And heaven with its blue arched skies. 
Are comfort enough for me. 

A paradise are nature’s wilds, 

Where the feet of man ne’er trod ; 

Though Bacon says — “to like such wilds, 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


25 


You must be a beast or god/’ 

But Bacon I do now defy, 

Let him be a lord or dude ; 

For neither beast nor god am I, 

And I do love solitude. 

I love the solitary waste, 

Where visits no form of beast ; 

If God be there, and my heart chaste. 
Of fear I’d know not the least. 

Joy I’d find in the wild recess. 
Encircled by insect lore ; 

Never liking man the less. 

But solitude the more. 


MY MOTHERS S GRAVE. 


My mother died when I was young, 
Only nine months old, they say ; 

And though I to my mother clung. 

They took her away from me. 

And placed her in a lonely spot, 

The hill I have often seen. 

And oft I’ve sought, but found her not. 


26 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


Though the grasses still were green. 

^Twas in the lovely month of May, 

The closing month of the spring ; 

And little birds in plumage gay 
Sad funeral songs did sing. 

They watched the men with pick and spade. 
So mournful did they wail ; 

But where that young mother was laid 
Little birds may- tell the tale. 

Though twenty years have passed since then 
And the birds are growing gray ; 

Tve often asked of older men 
To tell me where she lay. 

They answer thus — “I have forgot. 

But the grave I oft have seen, 

’Tis on the hill, a lonely spot 
Where the grasses still are green. 

But on the hill I searched in vain, 

And among the rustling leaves; 

But ah ! my heart is still in pain 
And my spirit often grieves. 

Yet oft’ I searched mid shine or rain, 
Though useless to me it seemed; 

I often in her arms have lain 
And kissed her in my dreams. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


27 


And in my wake I ne’er forgot 
That dreaming alone I’d been, 

But searched in vain that lonely spot 
Where the grasses still were green. 

At last I saw a nice old jay 

Who could all but scarcely see ; 

His eyes were dim, his hair was gray, 

But he rose and bowed to me. 

Oh birdie, will you tell me where 
My dear mother is, I pray ? 

And he asked me — ‘‘Was your mother fair„ 
Or was she infirmed and gray?” 

O, she was fair, yes, very fair. 

So young, and so pretty, too ; 

They buried her, I know not where. 

And I come to ask of you. 

“Why, of coufse, I remember, lad, 

’Twas a lovely day in May, 

They put your mother away, lad ; 

’Twas just twenty years today. 

My family all have died since then,. 

And I all alone am left ; 

They suffered all by wicked men. 

Who left me sad and bereft. 

But beneath yonder great tree, lad„ 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 




’Neath that mossy covered mound, 
Your mother there you will see, lad, 

If there she can now be found, 

For, lad, it is a lonely spot. 

As lone as ever I’ve seen ; 

But search and you will miss it not. 

For the grass is tall and green.” 

I hurried beneath the giant oak. 

Where its shady branches wave. 

And there I saw a mound unbroke. 
Which was my dear mother’s grave. 

i kneeled upon the lonely spot, 

And thought the hill serene, 

And wept because I found her not, 
Though the grasses still were green. 
But oft’ I think she lies in state 
While the stars are tapers tall ; 

That by her side the angels wait 
To see that no ills befall. 

And whene’er ill becomes mv lot 

✓ 

And death comes upon the scene, 

I want to lie in just such spot. 

Where the grass is tall and green. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


29 


THE TIGERS AND THE KIDS. 


High in the heavens rose the sun, 

And tossed its beams about, 

While I watched the children run 
To see the throng turn out. 

Where goes this throng, my bonnie lad ? 

I asked a passer-by. 

Who in his hands a bat he had. 

And now and then would cry — 
^^Hurrah for the ‘Tigers,’ boys! 

And shame upon the Kids, 

For, the Tigers sure were born, boys^ 

To beat the little Kids.” 

He stopped a moment, looked at me,, 

And fire flashed from his lids ; 

^‘The big boys are tigers, you see. 

And the little boys are kids. 

They are going to the picnic ground 
To have a game, you see; 

And if you want to take the round. 

Come quickly, follow me. 

And hurrah for the ‘Tigers,’ boys I 
And shame upon the ‘Kids,’ 


30 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS 


- For never in history, boys, 

Were tigers beat by kids.’^ 

• 

I joined in with the merry throng, 

And boarded the Elmwood car, 

And through the town we went along, 
And o’er the hills afar. 

The people, they all stared at us 
And thought the world at end ; 
Because it was a dreadful fuss 
That upward we did send. 

But e’er and anon came the cry 
As fire flashed from their lids — 
^‘The Tigers ail deserve to die 
If they can’t beat the Kids ; 

Then hurrah for the ‘Tigers,’ boys, 
And shame upon the ‘Kids ; ’ 

There never was a hist’ry, boys, 

Of tigers beat’ by kids. ” 

At last we reached the picnic ground. 
And Capt. Tiger wheeled 
And placed the Tigers in the town 
And the Kids upon the field. 

And then a ball was batted off 
That seemed to touch the sky ; 


MIO-DAY GLEANINGS. 


31 


But down it came, by kid was caught, 
And hurrah went the cry — 

^‘One tiger dropped out nicely, boys. 
And outed by the Kids ; 

Let every body shout, boys. 

For, they can’t beat the Kids. ” 

And then a liner straight was sent 
Like lightning o’er the field. 

Into a kiddish hand it went. 

Whose fingers would not yield. 

I have put another out, boys, ” 

The kid did loudly cry. 

We sure will beat the Tigers, boys, 
Or we deserve to die. ” 

Another tiger turned about 
And batted off the ball ; 

When all the kids began to shout 
Before the ball could fall — 

He has put the whole side out, boys. 
That is just what he did ; 

And great Captain Tiger can’t, boys. 
Beat little Captain Kid. ” 

Thus went the game for many hours 
Mid many a loud shout. 


32 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


’Til the Kids said — “The game is ours, ” 
And hurrah went the shout. 

The game was called at 3 o’clock, 

The umpire said to us — 

Dear friends it may your feelings shock. 
The game is standing thus: — 
Forty-seven for Captain ‘Kid,’ 

For ‘Tiger’ twenty-^even. 

And this is all the players did 

Since the clock struck eleven. , 

Then hurrahs shook the lofty air; 

The Kids, they grabbed the bat. 

And left the Tigers standing there 
All quite chagrined at that. 

But o’er the hills and back to town. 
Straight marched that mighty throng. 
On every street that they went down 
They shouted out this song — 

“ Shame upon the Tigers, boys, 

And bully for the Kids, 

For the Tigers are not born, boys, 

To beat the little Kids. 

It was not in history, boys. 

The Tigers said this morn’. 

But hist’ry with this event, boys. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


33 


Its pages will adorn. 

And shame upon the Tigers, boys, 
And bully for the Kids, 

For Tigers were not born, boys. 
To beat the little Kids. ” 


A UTUMN. 

Autumn’s Come ! 

And he with his magic hands. 
By his polished easel stands. 

With skill as great as renown. 

Painting golden colors down. 

Here he puts a touch of brown. 
Colors like his golden crown ; 

Of the trees, in touches bold. 
Paints he ev’ry leaf in gold. 

And the hilltops, far and near. 

In his picture stands out clear; 

Over them a cloud floats by. 

And beyond the azure sky. 

Here he paints a pretty vale. 
Overstrewn with lilies pale ; 

While the silvery brooklet heaves. 
Spotted with the fallen leaves. 


34 


MIDDAY GLEANINGS. 


Then he leaves the shady bowers 
To paint the meadow and flowers, 

And in amber paints the plain, 

Strewn over with golden grain. 

Among his trees squirrels play, 

And birds flock in plumage gay, 

While the orchards, very cute. 

All show up their golden fruit. 

He paints, too, the old homestead, 
Where lived those who now are dead; 

And in the meadows, children play, 
Running o^er the new cut hay. 

He paints the foundries and looms. 

The old church-yard and the tombs; 

Vivid pictures of the brave. 

Paints he on the new made grave. 

When his work is all quite done, 

He with canvas marches on 

With the days bleak and dreary, 
Leaving souls weak and weary, 
Autumn’s gone 1 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


35 


ECHOED THOUGH! S. 

0 darling will you let me tell 
Just how I feel today; 

How merrily chimes each Christmas bell, 
As it echoes far away ? 

It makes me think of days gone by, 

Of precious days well spent ; 

How Jesus left his throne on high, 

On a godly mission bent. 

The echoes of the distant bells 
Strange fancies bring to me. 

Like flowers in a lonely dell. 

Your own sweet face 1 see. 

And when comes even’ on at last. 

And frost has chilled the air, 

1 think again of days gone past 
And bless thee in my prayer. 

O, if you could only think 
Of whom I dream in sleep ; 

Could you but dream as fairies dream. 
You’d know the secret I keep. 

Could you but guess, and that you can’t, 
Though you may dream and weep ; 


36 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


This secret in my heart I plant 
A thousand fathoms deep. 

I dream of thee, I dream of home, 
So sweet can memories be ; 

I visit where I once did roam, 

I dream of eternity. 


IDA BELLE. 


’Twas of thee, fair woman, with sad, sweet 
-^ace. 

That the poets dreamed of old ; 

’Twas the mirrored expressions of thy face 
That sculptors tried to mold. 

To live in thy charms the lover has sighed 
Until his cheeks were paled. 

And it was thy picture which artists tried 
To paint so oft’ and failed. 

Sweetest perfection itself thou ait. 

Thy face is'a poet’s dream, 

And through the eye, the window of thy 
heart. 

Both love and kindness beam. 


MID-DAV GLEANINGS. 


37 


And thy very sad song, which gives you 
fame, 

Would bring angels from above ; 

A single smile from your lips would inflame 
A'human heart with love. 

For you, like the dazzling sunbeams go. 

To light this mundane sphere ; 

To scatter rich blessings, instead of woe. 
Make earth ten-folds more dear. 

Like the trailing of the comet’ bright 
That spans the canopy ; 

Trail on forever thy arcs of light. 

Let man thy beauty see. 

Thou art a queen, whom heaven has blessed, 
Thy throne morality ; 

Thy palace with truthfulness is dressed, 
Thy crown is purity. 

O woman, so noble, so pure, so proud. 

Sit fast on virtue’s throne. 

Till eternity round thee casts her shroud 
And bears thee to thy home. 


38 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


CORRUPTED MINI SIR Y. 


O corrupted ministry ! 

How long can you endure 
In foulest iniquity, 

Pretending to be pure? 

Our churches have you blacken’d 
With your darkest deeds of shame, 
Disgraces have you spreaded 
O’er the fairest woman’s name. 
The churches have been auction’d 
At a price below their cost, 

The Devil was the bidder; 

O, God ! will the church be lost ? 

Our preacher is a drunkard, 

And the deacon will be soon ; 

The church is a fighting ring 
And the pulpit a spittoon. 
Ordaining is a mockery. 

For the elder is a farce, 

His interest all is lacking, 

And morality is scarce. 

With cigar and the bottle 
In Jehovah’s holy name. 

He goes among our women 
To scatter seeds of shame. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


39 


The husbard he has parted 
From the most beloved wife, 
Humiliates ihe mother 
And wrecks the daughter's life. 
The peaceful homes are broken. 
The seeds of strife are sown, 

The parson takes some mairs wife 
And forgets about his own. 

On Sunday morn he preaches — 

“ Walk the commandments in, 
Meanwhile his soul is blushing, 
And his heart is black with sin. 

Newspapers on the altars 
Leave a terrifying stain, 

While the preacher stands and sells 
And keeps the ill-gotten gain. 
The preachers, they are lodgemen, 
And the bishop, he is, too. 

And so cannot chastise them, 

No matter what sin they do 
The secret lodge is cursing 
Great Jehovah^s holy name. 

And does a deadly mission 
In secret and in shame. 

O how long must we endure 


40 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


This great sin to take its course ? • 

If we would the church secure, 

We must break sin down by force. 
All the pulpits need be cleansed, 

And the churches to be scoured, 
The shrine of purity restored 

Where once the Christians bowed. 
Some volunteers are wanted' 

Whose hands will ne’er grow cold, 
No drunkards ever needed 
In the Christian’s sober fold. 

No man is a gentleman 
And no preacher a divine 
Who smokes cigars, drinks, or chews. 
Or mingles with the wine. 


THE CLOT OF BLOOD. 

In thought I stood on Nashville bridge^ 
Just over the vast expanse. 

Where Cumberland rolls her turbid stream 
And the merry ripples dance. 

The sunlight sparkled on the bridge 
And o’er the balustrade, 

I stepped out upon the edge 
To list’ what the waters said. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


41 


I bent my ear — and low the sound 
Of groans, the waves among — 

I stood and list’ until I found 
’Twas there a man was hung. 

O stranger,” sang the waters dark, 

“ Look on the balustrade, 

Where crime has left his bloody mark. 
Though the victim be dead. ” 

I bent my eyes, and lo ! I saw 
A clot of human blood 
That told me of a savage law 
Where crime for justice stood. 

O waters, tell me all, I cried. 

Lay bare the human heart ; 

‘‘The crime was dark, ” the waters sighed, 
“ Unfitted to impart. ” 

“ But stranger, list’, ” the waters said, 

“ For God has made it so, 

The deeds of man, though he be dead. 
Should here forever show. 

Bad deeds are like the clot of blood. 

So dark beneath the sun ; 


42 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS, 


The rain, it came ; the blood, it stood. 

To show a crime was done. 

So let your deeds be always good, 
Light-houses ’long the shore; 

The storm, it came : the light-house stood. 
Its lights shone all the more. 

O stand ye firmly for the right ! 

’Tis all we have to tell ; 

Now we must hasten in our flight, 

Oh stranger, fare the well !” 


‘^MATTIE. ” 


O woman, in thy loveliness. 

In grace and truth combined. 

Made so perfect by thy pureness. 

Made famous by thy mind ; 

’Neath the heaven’s dazzling sunlight. 
Thou art a sparkling gem ; 

Thy deeds, like stars, are shining bright, 
For God has polished them. 

Should I but say as others say. 

True sweet saying of old, 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


43 ^ 


That your value, if you would weigh, 
Would be your weight in gold ; 

Then think you would my sayings false,. 
Not meant for you at all; 

A piece of gold exact your weight 
Would be a deal too small. 

A million times your weight in gold. 
Rubies of every kind 

Could never, if the truth was told. 
Outbalance your great mind. 

A head so small, a brain so great. 
Wonderfully contrast ; 

Think not young woman of thy weight,. 
But hold thy knowledge fast. 

Few like you have attained so much. 

And few like you so small ; 

But from the height that you have reached 
Be sure and never fall. 

There in this wide world of ours 
A mission is for you ; 

Help others rise, help others live, 

Do all that you can do. 

Know ye it is the noble soul. 

In a cold world like this, 


44 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


That rises upward from the goal 
Unto the hight of bliss ? 

Then noble be your words and deed, 
Let wisdom be your guide, 

For wisdom’s path to glory leads, 

The gate is standing wide. 


GR O VER CLE VELAND, 


Hurrah for Cleveland ! the nations cry, 

As their exultation shakes the sky 
And Grover rises upon high ; 

While through his piercing eyes looks down. 
Watching oceans as they frown; 

He seeth the dark and threatening cloud, 
And heareth the peals of thunder loud, 
And yet feeleth he himself so proud. 

He sallies still more high. 

America justly needs be proud. 

For rich and poor have before him bowed; 
And he smiled o’er all the crowd ; 

But, in turning he himself around, 

Having heard a muffled sound, 

While studying the faces o’er. 

And a helping hand he gives to poor, 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


4S 


He leaves a note at every door — 

‘‘Your rights in me are found. 

He will show what “justice and law ” is^ 
While old England raiseth up her voice 
And claims she must rejoice 
That, in Grover Cleveland, now is found 
Hopes for the world around; 

That some gratitude the nations owe, 

And favor certainly will they show, 

While in free trade ships they come and go,, 
And never cause a wound. 

The stars and stripes will the nations praise,. 
And many a cheer for Cleveland be raised 
While at the White House he stays; 

For strike he will the much-needed blow. 
Make abundant money flow, 

And the money he will circulate 
Through every home, in every State, 

And our joys will he accelerate 
And set our hearts aglow. 

O, thou eagle! in thy scope so wide, 

Go higher still, for no ills betide. 

While thou, the nation’s pride, 

Unfurls the banner o’er our head, 

That bears this motto : “ Bread !” 


46 


MID-DAY GLEANIN(^S. 


Flags of Detnocracy, o’er the brave, 

From the mountains to the sea shall wave, 
And voices rise up from the grave — 

’Tis well, no more be said.” 


JEAL O US Y \MONG THE EL O WERS 

A flower garden seemingly 

Was this whole world of ours. 

And through this garden dreamingly 
I wandered ’mong the flowers. 

And I saw flowers gayly dressed. 

Some in form of women fair. 

And some, as I have since confessed. 

Had a dark or auburn hair. 

:Some personated mignonette, 

And some like the daisy fair. 

While lovely little violets 
Kissed me everywhere. 

Among so many flowers fair 
I saw a blushing little rose, 

While by her side the lilly fair 
So quietly did repose. 


' MIU-DAV GLEANINGS. 


47 


I touched the lilly as I said _ 

A kiss must be my fee, 

But her cheeks turned a crimson red — 

She turned away from me. 

But that, I said, will never do 
For lilly so sweet and fair. 

For it has been said, and ’tis true, 

‘^Lil is fairest of the fair.” 

So then she turned the pouting lips 
Upward to receive the kiss. 

But no! no! cried jealous cow-slip, 

Not in this garden of bliss. 

And then I asked her if she would 
When we together strolled.. 

No plotting here! that’s understood, 

Chimed in Miss Marigold. 

Then Love with ^‘Lil” I tried to plight, 
With vows quite old in story. 

But, ah, you know that is not right. 
Chimed in Miss Morning Glory. 

Then all the flowers cried at once, 

His love will never be true, 


48 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. ' 


‘ Lir ought to give him the bounce — 
That’s just what I would do.” 

Ugly imp,” said a dry old maid, 

“ He ought to have said it to me. 

And he would see Tm not afraid 

To show what a woman should be.” 

Hush! hush ! ” said the little Snow-drops, 
Your words are so needless said ; 

Old maids this year are sorry crops. 
Therefore be thou not afraid.” 

I second that,” said wee Fox-glove, 

For grandpa has often said 
That man was a fool to ever love 
An outeO’ fashion old maid.” 

^Ht is true his love is not pure,” 

Said jealous Forget-me-not; 

His taste is bad, and that is sure,” 

Said the frisky Touch-me-not. 

Well, I am fairest of you all. 

And I have received no kiss. 

Not even one,” said Miss Snow-ball, 

“And Tm quite vexed at this.” 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


49 


Well, let us see,’’ said old Lark-spur, 

“ I’ll tell you what we’ll do. 

We’ll tell a lie on him to her. 

And we’ll cut their love in two.” 

I’ll tell the lie,” said Devil-weed ; 

I’ll stir up all the strife. 

I’ll start up such a lie indeed 

She’ll hate him all of her life.” 

And then like lightning sped he on 
His mission so foul and wrong, 

’Till even the Dandelion 

Was deceived by his tongue. 

And thus to Lily he began : 

“ With him your love must now end — 
A disguised snake is that man 

Who claims to be your friend. 

I swear it that he, this same day, 

Some big lie has told on you, 

That people all who hear it say 
‘ I wonder if it is true.’ ” 

Then Lily turned her back on me 
For what that tattler said, 


50 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


And all the flowers said to me : 

‘‘ Your character has been read, 

* 

So out of here yourself you take.’^ 
Said all the flowers, Begone!^^ 
Then suddenly did I awake 
To find myself alone. 


MUD. 


Ah, my soul, what wet and dreary days. 
And how I crave the sun’s bright rays, 
For down this never ending lane. 
Plodding daily through the rain, 

Brings from my heart a heavy thud — 

My eyes behold nothing but mud, 
Nothing but mud. 

But every morning mid the poor 
From my home to the schoolhouse door, 
Splashing through the supple clay. 

Toiling wearily on my way, 

Makes my heart keep up the thud 
While before me nothing but mud, 
Nothing but mud. 

Mud on the door-step, mud in the door, 


MID-DAV GLEANINGS. 


51 


Mud on the ceiling, mud on the floor, 
Mud outside, and mud in the road 
Mud on the gateway and abroad ; 
Mud at table, and mud in bed. 

And mud o’er great creation spread; 
While this lonely, thumping thud, 
Makes me think that man is mud. 
Nothing but mud. 

But, ah, my soul, why not content. 
Complaint to grief always gives vent, 
And the more exalted thou be. 

The greater seems the fall to thee, 

So, weary heart, forget thy thud. 

Be content, though the world be mud, 
Nothing but mud. 


THE MODEL QUEEiV. 

TO IDELLE. 

Thou wert not born in a palace, 

Nor hath thou worn the regal crown ; 
Or the diamond-decked apparel 
Like the stately belle of the town. 

But lived, thou hast, a lady. 


52 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


Both at home or when abroad; 

And that is a priceless treasure, 

Worth diamonds by the load. 

Thy fingers decked, were not with rings. 
But youthful hands to work were trained^ 

Not’were holidays in leisure. 

But were in studies hard retained. 

An adept now in thy studies. 

And to manual labor prone ; 

An heiress to every virtue. 

Is a lot that is all thy own. 

Thou didst not pine for a title; 

Thy wants thou didst ever control; 

Although thou hadst a woman’s pride, 

A woman’s heart, a woman’s soul. 

Like the queen who, as milkmaid dressed. 
But whose hands spoke true to the wise ; 

Virtue shows the noble being, 

Though you be under disguise. 

No royal suitor yet has come. 

At thy feet to kneel and to plead; 

Yet thousands of worshipful hearts 
Regard thee a treasure indeed. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


53 


Thou art a princess, yea, a queen, 

The proud possessor of wealth ; 

For virtue to thy cheeks gives bloom. 
And to thv soul eternal healih. 

That thou shalt have a higher sphere. 

Is the noble decree of fate ; 

That thou wert crowned by royal hands 
Will be known at the Golden Gate. 

Though snares on every hand beset. 
Wherever thy feet hath trod ; 

An angel crowned with honors yet 
You’ll dwell in the palace of God. 


QUEEN OF THE FLOWERS. 

When wandering through the fields one day^ 
And through the meadow coming, 

I found a flower on my way. 

It was a lily blooming. 

Up from the flowers all around 
She raised her stately form. 

And then, if e’er before, I found 
A solace within a charm. 


54 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


She was kissed by the morning sun, 
d'hough the sunbeams made her^blush; 

Her happy life had just begun, 

So warbled out the thrush. 

Up from her stalk a sweet perfume 
'Fhat spread the meadow over. 

And kissed the flowers all in bloom, 

E’en to the meadow clover. 

Made many flowers raise their heads 
And call modest lily sweet, 

AVhile others from their humble beds 
Walked out to kiss her feet. 

And every worm and shrub and tree. 
Even the Apple green, 

Unanimously did agree- 

To call her the flower queen. ” 

And then the lark and linnet came 
Singing loud — “ May honor show 

That well may fare the lily’s name, 

And in beauty may she grow. ” 

A coronation song they sang, 

And the chorus joins and sings; 


MID-DAV GLEANINGS. 


55 


Through all the meadow music rang, 
Like harps of a thousand strings. 

The band of music was the bee ; 

The jay bird acted soldier ; 

He wore a cap upon his head, 

And stripes across his shoulder. 

Soprano sang the mocking bird 
’Til the tenor took its place ; 

Alto sang all the sparrow hawks, 
And the bullfrog sang the base. 

While thus presented they the crown 
A spectator old and gray 
Came forward in his royal gown 
And he thus began to say — 

Fairest queen of all the flowers ! 
Thy lips are a sacred thing. 
Though many bees may buzz about. 
Beware ! they have a sting. 

Be not deceived by bees and bugs 
Who praise those lips of thine. 

For soon they’ll stoop to ask a kiss. 
And then you must decline. 


X6 MID-DAV GLEANINGS. 


Or else you will attraction lose, 
•Thy fragrance and thy charm ; 
For every bee who takes a kiss 
Will take away thy balm. ” 


nOi\^T KISS. 


TO THE GIRLS. 


Beware, sweet girl, and do not kiss, 
Place not your honor at stake ; 
When hear ye the serpent’s hiss. 

Look close, you will find the snake. 

The serpent comes in every kiss. 

If dressed in masculine guise. 

And always shows without amiss 
That virtue it does despise. 

Sometimes the dudes at close of eve, 
Re[)Osing at your gate, 

Wish for a kiss before they leave ; 
Beware ! it seals your fate. 


For kissing, like the tiger’s thirst, 
When tasted human blood; 


MID-DAV C; LEANINGS. 


57 


One victim caught is not the worst 
That’s to be understood. 

But others seeks, and in the end 
The modest and the true, 

Without warning from a friend 
Is made a victim, too. 

Beware, too, of your lover’s lips 
When they’re caressing yours. 

For next his arm steals ’round the waist 
He seemingly adores. 

You think him harmless as the doves. 
Poor girl, be not deceived ! 

Not ev’ry man who says he loves 
Can always be believed. 

The serpent’s kiss has many forms, 

And heeds no laws of right. 

He has the most bewitching charms 
And prowls around at night. 

Sometimes it is the married man 
Who claims he has the right. 

Because he is your mother’s friend, 

To kiss you a good night. 


5 ? 


MID-DAV GLEANINGS. 


Beware ! he is the adder bold 
That never spares his prey ; 

So if you would your virtue hold, 

Be warned and flee away. 

Sometimes at parties, too, you’ll find 
Young men who want to kiss. 

But ah ! the serpent lurks behind 
The thought that wishes this. 

Again beware ; be true to trust ; 

Always remember this : 

Whatever lad tells you you must 
Tell him you do not kiss. 


WAYSIDE CREAM. 


’Twas mirth and titter the day live-long, 

’Twas fun at any cost, 

’Twas joy mingled with music and song, 

And jests of the merry host. 

The brilliant sun from his western throne 
Shot forward his arrows bright. 

And fairy-like on the carpet down 
Fell the brilliant arcs of light. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


S9 


A merry group was gathered ’round 
To welcome a sweet brunette; 

And dishes made a clattering sounds 
While tables for dinner were set. 

“ Come in, ladies,” the hostess said, 

“ And gentlemen, come in, too; 

^Tis dinner time, and the feast is spread,, 

I prepared it all for you.” 

To head of the table went Miss Key, 
And! to the side did get; 

Before me was the beautiful Belle, • 

At her side the sweet brunette. 

Who has ordered cream? said I to Lu/^ 
It was sister, answered she ; 

‘‘No ! No!”^ said Belle, as if it were true„ 
“1 think it was Miss Key.” 

However, to us came not the cream. 

And there were many sighs; 

Miss Belle was like a beautiful dream,. 

As the tears welled to her eyes. 

Then to me she whispered in a moan^ 

“ If we should perchance to meet 


6o 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


The messenger who for cream has gone, 
We will stop him on the street. 

So in my pocket she hid a spoon, 

And we went our journey on ; 

But alas I came the fun too soon, 

Ere we had our journey done. 

Eor with the lovely little brunette 
I had tripped across the dell; 

She at my side is smiling yet, 

Around me she casts a spell. 

When suddenly from the dell below 
There arose a startling scream ; 

And back the ladies started to go. 

For some one was bringing cream. 

Yell after yell, from beautiful Belle, 

Quite threw me into a swoon ; 

She threw off from me the lovely spell, 
And searched me for the spoon. 

And with spoon in hand she made a rush 
Toward him who bore the cream ; 

Brunette’s face took a rosy flush. 

So full of joy did she seem. 

Her sister, though, so happy she was. 
Her face was no longer a dream ; 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


6s 


Reality on her countenance was, 

As she made ’way with the cream. 

A party, happy, were we and gay. 

But a few things I’ll never forget ; 

The most thrilling pleasures of that day,, 
And the face of the sweet brunette. 

But in the height of our joy we feared 
That danger would happen soon; 

For all of the cream had disappeared,. 
And with it went the spoon. 


SOiVG OF THE SLA VE, 


Oh, send me home to Africa, 

Back across the sea, 

From America’s cruel shores 
To mv own country, 

For there my heart is yearning. 

Where the Southern sun is burning ; 
Oh, could I but be returning 
To the home of the free. 

Oh, how I long for Africa, 

Home of Liberty, 

Where happiness forever dwells 


62 


MID-DAV GLEANINGS. 


And all men are free. 

It is there I should be going, 

Where the bread-fruit trees are growing, 
And sweet freedom’s breeze is blowing ; 

’ Tis my own country. 

Oh, send me home to Africa, 

O’er the raging sea, 

To the Lake Tanganyika, 

In my own country. 

Where the children all are singing. 

And in hammocks they are swinging, 
While sweet freedom’s song is ringing 
In the land of the free. 

Oh, send me home to Africa, 

Where I long to be. 

From this cruel America 
O’er the raging sea. 

Where my fathers all are reigning 
And their freedom still retaining ; 

O, they never are complaining 
In that land of the free. 

Oh, send me home to Africa, 

Home across the sea. 

Where happiness forever dwells, 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


63 


And all men are free. 

’ Tis for there I still am sighing 
If, perchance, I should be dying 
Upward I would go a flying 
From country. 


THE LAST SNOJV. 


Fall on, ye fairy snowflakes. 

Scatter over the town ; 

*Tis night, but when the day breaks, 
You’ll sparkle on the ground.’ 

For winter from his palace 
Has just begun to move. 

And shakes ye fairy snowflakes 
O’er temple, hill and grove. 

With gleaming eyes he watches 
The snowflake as it falls, 

And then, with icy fingers. 

He paints the temple walls. 

O’er all the earth he breathes 
A cold and bitter breath ; 

The dripping water freezes. 

And things are still as death. 


64 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


With cold and icy fingers 

He shrouds the earth in snow ; 

His fingers touch the brooklets^ 
And waters cease to flow. 

Grim winter is an artist 
Surpassing man in skill; 

In white alone he pictures 
The valley, grove and hill. 

His trees are white and drooping 
leaden with the snow ; 

A freezing breath he breathes, ^ 
And wondrous beauties show. 

O, man, could you but picture 
Humanity in white ; 

Make every deed conspicuous 
In snowy colors bright. 

This earth would be a heaven — , 
A world of wondrous bliss — 

Where blessings would be given. 
And love and mercy kiss. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


65 


otto. ’’ 


From rock city in highland rim, 
Where seldom azure skies grow dim, 
From Meharry’s Medical Hall, 

To sunny bluffs where shadows fall, 

To our city like templed Rome, 

We welcome Dr. Otto home. 

A course in school he did begin. 

And year went out as year came in. 
And still did he a course pursue ; ■ 

One object kept he still in view. 

Till he had found just what he sought, 
In life’s battle he stood and fought. 

And when the battle was achieved. 

He did not dare to stand aggrieved, 
But he, rejoicing, homeward bent, 

His heart was full, his mind content, 
Now that he could help all mankind. 
No suft’ring soul he’d leave behind. 

A happy life is his indeed, 

For happiness does man .most need; 
Success, it seems, does come to earth, 
And to new life does she give birth, 


66 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


For a new life has he begun, 

A battle fought, a victory won. 

Then may he reach the height of fame, 
No wrong e’er blot his titled name. 

His name on hearts, where’er he goes, 
He writes in love, and there it grows, 
For courage in the battle strife 
Has wrought this change in Otto’s life. 


BRIDE OF THE SKIES. 

With the gentle zephyr of a summer’s twi- 
light, 

When heard, a single sound was not. 

Save, being rustled by the gentle winds, the 
leaves 

And zephyr’s almost silent, footfalls 

Came — a voice that, in heavenly sweetness, 
said : 

Behold her beauty. Bride of the Skies!” 

Then came the silent zephyr, in her fairy 
form. 

Stooping, my burning cheeks she kisses, 

While my aching brow with airy palm she 
fans, 



c;leanin(;s. 


67 


Thrilling my soul by gentle touches, 

She catches me up in her gentle arms 

And bears me into the chamber of the 
bride. 

And there the moon, great mirror of heaven, 
before. 

Stood dressed the fair and lovely comet, 

Surpassingly beautiful as she twists and 
turns. 

And smiling, her lovely form surveys. 

While in her chamber a million candles 
swung. 

Without the guests to the wedding come. 

But stands she stately and^proud in the pal- 
ace hall. 

And about her gathers her snow white 
robes, 

When the proud but invisible Eternus comes. 

And, entering her bridal room. 

Takes her, and upon his breast her head 
she pillows. 

While kisses upon her lips he rains. 

Then upon his knees falleth the Prince 
Eternus, 


68 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


And a ring, with sparkling meteors set, 
Draws he from his invisible bosom, 

And, while her hand he clasps and presses, 
As she, blushing and smiling, kneeleth be- 
side him. 

He places it upon her finger. 

Rising, with a diadem of stars he crowns 
her, 

When graceful Venus, her bridesmaid, 
comes, 

And with airy touches from her graceful 
fingers, 

That electrify the blushing bride, 

Catches she up, of flaming light, a snowy 
veil, 

And spreads it over the bridal robes. 

Then softly from earth to heaven is raised 
Music, the sweetest by man e’er heard. 

And into the blazing skies earth and sea 
looks up. 

When the soft, low wedding march begins. 
And planets swing in their beautiful orbs 
and nod. 

While time to music they try to keep. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


• 69 


O, that an angel might paint that scene so 
sublime ! 

Describe that proud procession of stars, 

For slowly caugh't up by the moon and re- 
flected, 

Seems the whole heaven ablaze with light, 

While everywhere the feet of the bride doth 
tread, 

^Neath them skyrockets burst forth and 
blaze. 

Through the heavens her graceful form she 
carries. 

And her robe of light serenely trails. 

Until her last glance at the mirror she 
snatches. 

Then, moving slowly from the zenith, 

Takes her seat upon the western horizon, 

While floats her trail in the eastern sky. 


A WANDERING HEART. 


A little heart once wandered out 
To see what it could see ; 

It raised its voice in gladsome shout. 
Rejoiced that it was free. 


70 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


It laughed and wept, sighed and slept, 
And dreamed of future fair. 

That fairies to its side had crept 
While it was sleeping there. 

It then awoke with gladsome smile 
And turned it round about, 

But fairies fled into exile. 

And not a one was out. 

Again it shook its haughty form 
And started on apace. 

Then paused to give a greeting warm 
To a little flower vase. 

Then off it leaped with sudden bound, 
O’er the flowery spray. 

Over the rocks and mossy mound. 

It plodded on its way. 

It heard the little cricket’s song. 

The birds, it heard them, too; 

Beside the river it walked along 
Well bathed in the morning’s dew. 

It rushed into the lonely dell 
Where mortals never roam. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


71 


But there it found no p^ace to dwell, 
There was no place like home. 

So on it went the world around, 

With no one would it join 

^ Til it came to Memphis town 
x\nd entered in LeMoviie. 

j 

And there for once it ceased to roam, 
(Poor thing, it needed rest), 

And tried to find a better home, 
Within another’s breast. 

“ But ah ! sad heart, a foolish choice 
To make thyself a slave, ” 

Was heard to say a spirit’s voice, 

Tis better in the grave. ” 

Thus refused a resting place, 

It wept and onward went ; 

With care it studies every face 
While on love’s mission bent. 


72 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


THE NIGHTINGALE OE SONG, 


TO ‘‘sis.’' 


One Summer’s night in month of June, 

At half-past eight, or not as soon, 

I sat enraptured in my seat 
List’ning to strains unearthly sweet. 

They came like the summer’s shower, 
Refreshing every bush and bower. 
Drifting on the still night air. 

Falling freely, purely and rare. 

They came from lips of a dark brunette. 
With eyes as dark as midnight jet; 

Her face was sad, her form was neat. 

Her lips, no doubt, unearthly sweet. 

She sang a song in smooth accent. 

That made my heart to joy give vent; 
And my very soul exalted rose 
Beyond the sky to quiet repose. 

I wandered off in heav’nly lands. 
Through verdant fields, on golden strands; 
I thought I heard an angel sing, 

‘‘ Love, I’ll hide thee under my wing.” 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


7i 


And then I heard the echoes swell, 
Sounding o’er earth in ev’ry dell ; 

Then lifted up by balmy breeze, 

Were wafted far beyond the trees. 

Again the echoes rose on high, 

And drifted far beyond the sky ; 

My soul rose up on wings of bliss. 

My heart went out to receive a kiss. 

When the singer’s song had ended. 

My soul again to earth descended; 

I found myself in a chapel grand. 

In a city of my native land. 

I sat there with my eyes transfixed ; 

My thoughts were gone, my brains all mixed; 
I tried if I one smile could gain 
Ere the singer had ended her strain. 

But not a one could I engage ; 

She heeded me not, and left the stage ; 

But when the people gave applause. 

She was called again ; without pause 

She rose and sang it o’er again. 

The same sweet song, the same sweet strain ; 
And, wandering on the same old route. 
With the singer’s song my heart went out. 


74 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


And sometimes now, in accents clear, 

That same sweet voice falls on my ear; 
Those same bright eyes, that same sweet 
face. 

Smile upon me in ev’ry place ; 

And ever now, as life glides on. 

Upon my soul sweet visions dawn. 


cm^isrs WHISPER. 


When my heart grew weak and weary, 
And the days grew bleak and dreary, 

I heard a voice so gently calling. 

Upon my ears softly falling — 

Come, even while sea billows roar. 
Unto this- fair but unknown shore. 

That same voice still is calling me — 
Come, come away across the sea ; 
Come while the tide does ebb and flow. 
And the winds do softly blow ; 

Come even while sea billows roar. 

Unto this fair but unknown shore. 

Softly still it is calling me. 

Merrily calling, full of glee, 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


7S 


Borne on the night winds o’er the sea, 
Floating gently o’er the lea, 

Calling as sweetly as before— 

“ Come to this fair but unknown shore. 

Somebody still is calling me — 

Come over the deep and dark blue sea 
Come in the morn or dewy eves. 

Haste thou on ere my spirit grieves ; 

For I am waiting as before 
To give thee welcome on this shore. ” 

And yet that voice is calling me, 

Merrily calling, full of glee, 

Borne on the night winds o’er the sea. 
Floating gently over the lea. 

Falling sweeter than before — 

Oh, come ! come to this unknown shore. 

Then merrily, merrily go. 

While the winds do softly blow. 

Oh merrily, merrily go. 

While the tide does ebb and flow, 

And even while sea billows roar 
Go view that fair and unknown shore* 


T 


76 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


THE VALENTINE, 


A little maple once was I, 

A reed of flax were you, 

Within a meadow, side by side. 

We both together grew. 

A happy life we both did lead. 

And great in nature grew; 

A lovely pair we were, indeed. 

And made a lovely view. 

W^e might have together grown, 

A maple and a flax, 

Had the wicked farmer mercy shown, 
And spared us from his ax. 

Off to the manufactory 
He took you far away. 

While to the hungry old saw-mill 
He carried me next day. 

"They wove you into snow-white cloth, 
A cloth of linen kind. 

And scooped me out into a tray, 

As thin as thinnest rind. 


First into paper, then to board. 


MID-DAV GLEANINGS. 


77 


They pressed you nicely down, 

While butter in my scooped out tray, 
They sent around the town. 

You were bought by a nice young man,, 
And I by a lady fair. 

And then our last career began. 

And here’s the whole affair : 

They were courting, or they feign 
A lover’s bond to form ; 

She paints me ’til a lovely scene, 

He takes me under his arm. 

A plug he cuts from out your back^ 
Then with some ribbon red. 

And with some blue and green, intact^ 
He binds me there instead. 

So, after many years we meet. 

Though once in verdure fine ; 

We now are pleased the world to greets 
As some one’s valentine. 


78 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


D/SA PPOINTMENT. 


Easter, Tom,” says Legs to me, 
^‘And you just bet your worth 

If Fm there at half-past three 
I am biggest man on earth. 

I want you just to come and go. 

No better you’d deserve 

Than see me kiss that pretty girl 
Who lives be vend the curve. 

Come, take the car. I’ll pay your fare, 
And haste, I prithee. 

For she expects me to be there 
Just as the clock strikes three.” 

So, with collar up to his chin. 

He took the red street car. 

And later on we both walked in 
Where gates did stand ajar. 

He rang the bell, then gave a grin, 
And seemed as lost in bliss ; 

He was sure she would let him in 
And he would steal a kiss. 

Some footsteps sounded in the hall; 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


79 


He made ready to embrace, 

For I am sure I saw it all 
Written upon his face. 

Magnetta, ope the door,’’ he said. 

And soon it came ajar. 

But there before us, in her stead. 

Stood Magnetta’s pa, 

Who calmly smiled at us, and said : 
“Gentlemen, walk straight in.” 

Legs, blushing, turned a crimson red. 
And lost that pleasant grin. 

But there we stayed three hours or more, 
Yet no girl did we see. 

At length I said, “ Legs, let’s go, 

The engagement was at three.” 

We took our leave, that Easier day. 
When Legs did some one see, 

Down the road he darted away — 

“Come, Tom, this is she.” 

1 can not tell you how it was, 

But this is what I saw : 

He did not kiss her, as he thought. 
Because it was her ma ! 


8o 


MID-DAY -GLEANINGS. 


No girl we saw the live-long day; 

’Twas very strange to me 
How things could happen in this way 
And expected, too, at three. 


DONATED FLOWERS. 


While ’neath the flowers, sadly wandering, 
With thoughts of days gone by, 

I saw the birds around me squandering, 
Soaring toward the sky. 

The gayest of all, a mocking bird. 

Singing his tuneful lay ; 

The singer, the sweetest ever heard, 
Cheered me along my way. 

He recalled to me the magic spell 
Thrown over me last year; 

His voice, like yours, I remember well. 

Did sound so sweet and clear. 

Because he sang the same sweet song 
That once I heard you sing ; 

It made my heart beat loud and strong. 
Echoes my soul did ring. 

How long I stood, how nuny hours, 

I don’t remember well; 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 




But this I know, I plucked some flowers, 
And they the tale may tell. 

And they to you I do gladly send, 

White and red roses, too ; 

Accept them, my bonnie young friend,- 
I plucked them all for you. 


T7/£ WEATHER. 


Today the sun looks down in my face. 
The heavens are dazzling bright ; 

The earth drinks up its flood of rays, 
The moon comes out at night, 

And all the little stars look down, 
Smiling from overhead. 

While the night, in her pearly gown. 

Sits watching by my bed 
^ Til rosy dawn sets in again 

And gray clouds float overhead ; 

When dawn comes the pattering rain 
And thunder, oh such dread 1 
Now I put on my over shoes, 

And, much against my will, 

I’m forced to cross those muddy sloughs 
And trudge up o’er the hill. 

And then a blizzard ‘soon sets in. 


§2 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


And wind and sleet and snow, 

And liail with some rain mixed in 
Come pouring down below, 

^ d'il the sunlight thro' the arches 
In sjdendor lights the earth, 

And the spring birds 'neath the shadows 
Begin their songs of mirth. 


THE FLOOD, 

Wh en all the world did wicked grow, 
God’s anger was intense ; 

Much more so than ever before, 

Or ever shown us since. 

( 

To Noah he said commandingiy : 

Build for me an ark; ” 

And Noah (understandingly) 

Did work from dawn till dark. 

When the ark was thoroughly done. 

To Noah’s honest joy. 

The good Lord said : ‘Mt is well done; 
Now, I will the world destroy.” 

So take thee, Noah, two of each 
Of everything that’s clean ; 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


83 


And for them, from my furore’s reach, 
These walls shall be a screen.” 

Then came a breeze among the trees, 
A rumbling far away ; 

The shepherd boy in horror sees 
The sunlight fading ’way. 

For, o’er the hills a little spot 
Had mounted upon high ; 

It was but a tiny spot. 

But spreaded o’er the sky. 

It chased away the sunlight. 

And blotted out the sun ; 

And darkness, like eternal night. 

With the tempest had begun. 

The eagle ’bove the mountain topped. 
And mounted into the sky ; 

The little birds in terror stopped 
And whispered : Danger nigh! ” 

The cattle of a thousand hills 
Came scampering o’er the plain, 

Leaping brooks and silvery rills. 
Rushing from the rain. 


84 MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 

, i;- > -a ^ ' 


They saw sitting upon the hill, 

The ark of gopher wood ; 

Made by Noah of God’s own will, 

To shelter all the good. 

• Of/* I ,' « • s 

Into the ark in terror fled 
Every living thing. 

Just as to Noah had been said 
By heaven’s only King ; 

• t ; . ; 

Went two of each and every kind 
Of living creatures in ; 

But wicked man was left behind 
To perish for his sin. 

So then took Noah his three sons 
And all their family in ; 

But wicked people said, ^‘he jests,” 

And kept on in their sin. 

Then Noah prepared to embark. 

On waters not yet seen ; 

“ Oh, man 1 ” he cried, Fly to the Ark 1’^ 
But man was too unclean ; 


And so kept on in wickedness 
’ Til God himself revealed 


To them in'their selfishness. 


That he their fate had sealed 




' \ 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 85 


For fiercer grew the. howling wind 
And darker grew the sky, 

While lofty oaks did nimbly bend 
And lightning flashed on high. 

Then came a burst of thunder wild, 
A shock — such bursting bombs ! 

They frightened nature’s only child 
And echoed ’mong the tombs. 

Then a silence — such a hush 
Mortals had never known. 

And then a bolt as if to crush 
The hardest mountain stone. 

The heavens, they, in anger still, 
Wore one furious frown; 

O’er ev’ry hill and vale there fell 
The rain in torrents down. 

A raging storm on sea and land. 

And darkness coming on, 

Before which mortal dared not stand 
And day could never dawn. 

When God’s relentless anger fell. 
The people, sore, alarmed, 


86 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


Thought all of earth, and even hell, 

Might fear such dreaded storm. 

O’er all the heights, and ev’ry plain, 

O’er ev’ry hill and vale. 

The waters raged, like on the main, 

And fiercer blew the gale. 

It raged in furore over earth. 

Crept up the mountain’s side ; 

Ten thousand children, just from birth. 
Were swept on with the tide. 

No mercy for the dying child ! 

No ears to heed its cry ! ” 

Were heard to say the waters wild, 

“ Mortality must die ! ” 

Man climbed up the tallest tree, 

But that would never do ; 

Ha, ha, ha ! ” laughed the gaping sea, 

“ I’m coming up there, too.” 

Then up the mountain, all defiled, 

■ He fled to nature’s towers. 

But, ‘‘No, no!” cried the thunders wild, 
“The mountains, they are ours.” 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


But up the mountain on he sped 
Though punishment was due, 

And, just for spite, the mad waves said : 
“ We’re coming up there, too.” 

And so, hemmed in on ev’ry side, 

He uttered screams of fear; 

The echoes rang out far and wide, 

But God refused to hear. 

The greedy waves crept o’er his head, 
And heeded not his plea. 

But strangled him ’till he was dead, 
Then buried him in the sea. 

And then, suddenly thro’ the sky 
The sunlight faintly burst ; 

A rainbow loomed out on high 
That said, “ this ends the curse.” 

The clouds all quickly passed away, 

The sunbeams lit the sky, 

’ Twas near the hundred and fiftieth day 
When the waters said good-bye. 

Again with furore o’er the lea 
And back towards tlie West, 

Thev hasten back into the sea 
Where they now calmly rest. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


S$ 


And the Ark, with it precious freight, 
Mid calm and all of that. 

Landed, so the Hebrews state, 

Upon Mount Ararat. 

Eight persons, only, left the Ark 
And marched across the plain. 
Forever aft’ in ages dark 
' To people the world again. 


XA V PULLIAM^ S GIN, 


TO THE PULLIAM CHILDREN. 

Note. — One spring evening, while sitting 
at my window, near Rossville, P'ayette 
County, Tennessee, I heard the cry, ‘‘fire! 
fire ! ” I rushed to the scene of horror, to 
find it the farm gin which belonged to a 
farmer by the name of Pulliam. I eagerly 
watched the flames as they rose up in 
splendor against the vernal skies, and I saw 
the old house sink into a mass of ashes. So 
touched was I with that scene of mingled 
beauty and horror, that I drew from my 
pocket a pencil and tablet, and wrote a 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


S9 


poem, which I dedicated to the farmer’s 
children. — March, 1889. 

Hum, hum, hum, went the old gin wheel 
Of old Kay Pulliam’s gin. 

Zoo, zoo, zoo, through the old sage field 
Loud blew the cutting wind. 

But, as the wind blew cold and raw 
Straight through Kay Pulliam’s gin, 

Gayly sang Mr. Jackson Warr, 

And raked the cotton in. 

• 

While he sang as a gay skylark 
A stifling smoke arose. 

His eyes caught the glittering spark. 

And his heart within froze. 

He called to the driver, ho ! ho! 

As would his great grand sire. 

Then leaping to the ground below. 
Screamed out — fire ! fire ! fire ! ” 

But onward blew the cutting wind 
Straight through the old dry frame, 

A mighty crackling rose within, 

And higher leaped the flame. 


90 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


And the cows left their pasture feed 
To watch the flames ascend, 

But when they smelled the cotton-seed 
They seemed to comprehend. 

But fiercer grew the seething flame^ 

Of it will memory tell, 

How cranky grew the old dry frame, 

At last the old house fell. 

Thus ceased the humming of the wheel 
Of old Kay Pulliam’s gin. 

But zoo, zoo, through the old sage field 
Still blows the cutting wind. 


SCHOOL LIFE ENDED, 


TO THE CLASS OF 189O. 

At last ! at the terminus 
Of normal training’s day ; 
But seven if you count us, 
Yet ask what you may. 

We rest here but a second; 
Sweet is a moment’s rest : 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


9K 


So soon we shall be beckoned 
Onward at God’s request. 

The waters still are flowing 
Within their murmuring rills ; 

The harvest fields are glowing 
Along the sloping hills. 

Let’s get our sycles ready 
Before the autumn rain, 

With hands both firm and steady^ 
Reap in the golden grain. 

But hark ! we’re at the ocean — 
The ocean deep and wide : 

We hear its surging billows, 

We see its swelling tide. 

And should we launch our vessel. 
Upon this stormy sea. 

What damage could there happen 
To seven as true as we ? 

Tho’ on the stormy ocean 

We’d meet with endless strife :. 

But due us is a portion 
Of trouble thro’ this life. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


So let’s be like the seven, 

The seven peas in a pod,” 

That grew beneath the heaven 
For the glory of their Goii. 

But when our pod ” is open 
And the winds our union sever. 

Who’ll go into the desert 

And the starving birds deliver ? 

Who’ll leap up to the attic 
And thro’ the window peep, 

To cheer the poor, afflicted. 

And watch them in their sleep ? 

Who’ll go out on the hillside 
Where oft’ the shepherds sleep, 

And spread your branches wide 
To feed the hungry sheep ? 

For here our school life ends : 

We dare not try to shirk ; 

But say farewell, dear friends,” 
And hie upon our work. 

We’ll be a happy seven 

Where’er our feet have trod. 

And live beneath the heaven 
For the glory of our God. 


I 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 9^ 


Tho^ with the tempest shifting, 
Or while the sunbeam^ dart, 
With pearly clouds we’re drifting 
Farther and farther, apart ; 

Yet , we shall be a seven, 

On land or, on the main.; 

Qur ,corppass pointy to h j^aven,. 
And there we’ll meet again. 


THE FUNNY MAN 


The funniest man I ever saw 
I’ll tell you this, you see, 

He is about the size of pa. 

And lives with Kitt McCree. 


He goes to Macon, gets his .drink. 

And then gets on a spree. 

But when^its off — how strange to thinks 

Comes back to Kitt McCree. 

. . . : 1 •> ■ 


He takes his beer and whisky straight^ 
Jolly as he can be. 

His name to you I will not state — 

He lives with Kitt McCree. 




•> » • 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


94 . 


One day while whittling with his knife 
The bark from off a tree, 

'“Diich,” said he to his hearty wife, 
‘•Just leave old Kitt McCree.” 

So off he moved to neighbor’s house, 

To live with him, you see. 

But, before three weeks were quite out, 
Went back to Kitt McCree. 

And there he is until this day. 

Jolly as he can be ; 

And there he’ll be until he’s gray 
With same old Kitt McCree. 


KING AUTUMN 


Autumn one September day 
With but a golden wand 
Came to this country (people say) 
From a strange, foreign land. 

He found the earth enrobed in green, 
With flowered belts around, 

A skirt of nature’s grandest scene 
In tucks of grandeur bound. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


95 


He thought her queenly in her form, 

But just one thing alack, 

A golden bell, a chain and charm, 

And brownish-colored sack. 

And so he touched her queenly hand; 
And trees that graced her crown 

Did waver ’neath his magic wand 
Till came a shower down. 

He moved among the leafy tents 
Till colors varied came, 

And till bouquets of golden tints 
Were given earth his dame. 

Then he smiled upon the flowers, 

Which blushed and drooped the head 
And stepping out from the bowers, 

In frigid tones he said : 

I, the great king of all the land, 

Know nothing of mother ; 

But early left my native land 
To dwell in another. 

The earth at once shall change her robe 
From green to brilliant brown. 

And every creature on the globe 
Shall recognize her crown. 




96 . 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


He placed his hands uppa thet leaves 
Which soon their verdure lost ; 

And blew his, breath among the eaves 
And left a. coat of frost. 

Then we insects and little elves 
Did vanish as of gold, 

And men. threw cloaks around themselves 
Because ’twas getting cold. 

And every year since that day, 

When earth puts on her brown, 

All of the wise pull off their gay 
To recognize her crown. 


A FADED FLOWER, 

TO MAGNETTA.^^ 

Note. — This flower was left by a mem- 
ber of the senior class of 1889 ^ Latin 

reader, in the Normal Institute, LeMoyne, 
and remained there till found by the class of 
next year, whence sprang this poem : 

0, beautiful, lovely flower, 

(Between the pages, pressed) 
Once,,thpu decked. a, graceful bower,. 
And often waStCaressed ; 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


97 


Until a maiden came one day 
To admire their velvet crest, 

And plucked thee, took thee far away 
Upon her heaving breast. 

She brought thee to this study-room, 
Far from your shady nook. 

Between these pages sealed thy doom, 
And kept thee in this book. 

She wrote above thee an epitaph. 
Beneath thee something better ; 

Across thy other verdant half 
She wrote her name — Magiietta. 

She was so pleased with all thy charms,' 
With all thy grace and style. 

She often clasped thee in her arms, 
Caressed thee with a smile. 

She put thee in this self-same place. 

She read this self-same book : 

To her you added queenly grace, 

And thee she ne’er forsook. 

She was a girl of simple grace : 

Angelic sweetness not amiss, 

So often, too, in her embrace, 

Didst thou receive a loving kiss. 


98 


MID-DAV GLEANINGS. 


But summer time came on at last, , 
Commencement day came, too : 

She greeted thee her very last. 

And bade thee an adieu. 

She left thee a fading flower, 

A treasure more than dear; 

But one day ’mid autumn’s shower 
We came and found thee here. 

We greeted thee for her namesake, 
And let many tear-drops start : 

For thee no ruby would we take. 
Yet so soon we, too, must part. 

We’ll pardon her if she was cruel 
To break thee from thy tree; 

Because to us all a jewel. 

Much treasured, you shall be. 

So with this ribbon we’ll bind you 
And leave you in this book. 

So some other class may find you 
And for your hist’ry look. 

And now we will part forever : 

'The winds some day may tell 

That we^ve forgotten thee never, 

So farewell, dear 1 farewell ! 


MID-DAV GLEANINGS. 


99 


J^AT£. 


I met her in the country 
When the sun was low, 

And the sky was radiant 
With an amber glow. 

We played croquet together 

On the school-yard ground, 

Till fell the twilight shadows 
And the night came round. 

^‘Good-night, sir]” said she softly, 
As she walked away ; 

We’ll meet again to-morrow, 

If fine be the day.” 

Again next day I met her 
In the early morn, 

When heard was but the ringing 
Of the hunter’s horn. 

With me she went afishing, 

Tho’ nothing was caught; 

I wondered if I loved her, 

Would it come to naught ? 


lOO 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


We went to church together, 
And she sang a song ; 

I dreamed about the singing 
All the night live-long. 

I then knew that I loved her, 
And did not repine. 

Because that she was promised 
And never could be mine. 

But love I will forever, 

Till we meet above; 

For death can never sever 
Bonds of sacred love. 

The heaven bells will ring* it 
In their merry chimes — 

I love her!’’ — and be echoed 
Back a thousand times. 

The angels all will sing it 
In their melody. 

That I will love her ever 
Thro’ eternity. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


lot 


THE KIND REEL Y, 


A Christian man one summer’s day 
With care his books perusing, 

Was smiling in a pleasant way 

As something seemed amusing. 

An open letter in his hand 

Thro’ which a friend was pleading, 
She who was his dearest friend. 

Her words he had been reading. 

When suddenly the door flew wide, 

A stalwart friend came in. 

And stepping to the Christian’s side^ 

This story did begin — 

That girl whom oft you call your friend 
Has used you as a tool, 

Tho’ innocent does she pretend. 

Yet plays you for the fool. ” 

Oh, no! ” said he, “ It all I see 
And fully understand. 

That barrier ’twixt her and me 

You wish to take your stand. ” 


102 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


Oh, no, sir ! ’’ said the stalwart friend^ 
It is a true old tale, 

Atid upon it you may depend, 

Deceit is a female. 

Did you not to Stanovilla 

One lovely summer’s day,. 

With your lone red umbrella 
A friendly visit pay ? 

And when you had departed 
Back forty miles to roam^ 

She a wicked letter started 
Out on its mission home? 

To a girlish friend she stated — 

^ These words I gladly send ; 

The question’s being debated. 

If not the world’s on end. 

This day there came to see me, 

My memory makes no slips,. 

A young man, a perfect beauty. 

With great big liver lips. ’ 

You see I am not a barrier 

Betwixt yourself and friend; 

That girl will prove a terror 
And bite you in the end. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS 


^ 103 


Then stepped he out thro’ the door 
Without a sense of wrong ; 

The Christian sank upon the floor 
In thought the day live-long, 

At length he rose and with a frown, 
Insulted as he thought, 

With pen and ink did he sit down 
And wrote what he ought not. 

Said he : ^Tf you in this persist 
Friendship sure must sever, 

And then our long-loved friendship end 
Forever and forever. ” 

He sent the letter on its way 
And tears came to his eye, 

But ere the close of that same day 
There came the kind reply — 

Dear sir, you have insulted me, 

But I forgive you this. 

For, sorry, sorry you will be 

Ere the dew the grass doth kiss. 

And as for welcome at my home, 

I give it to you freely. 

And will be glad whene’er you come 
If you believe it really. 


104 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


But to recall your friendship, sir, 

Such can ne’er be in you, 

For if you are a Christian, sir. 
Friendship must continue. 

And thus you will some future day. 
When passion you forsake, 

Consider things the other way 

And see your own mistake. ” 

The Christian did, and strange to say. 
Became a wiser man, 

And knows that nothing e’en this day 
Can do what kindness can. 

And now he teaches ev’ry born 
How anger to defy; 

Not by hot words and mocking scorn. 
But with a kind reply. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


105 


CHRISTMAS BELLS, 


Chime on, O, Christmas bells, chime on ! 

As once thou didst of yore. 

When broke the stillness of the morn 
With the echoes you bore. 

Peace on e.irth, good will to men,’’ 

Is what your echoes told, 

And that the angels even then. 

Were playing harps of gold. 

Chime on, O, Christmas bells, chime on 1 
Amuse the babe new-born, 

And with thy peals and welcome sound 
Cheer up the rosy morn ; 

And bring into my aching heart 
That Christ of long ago, 

That he some blessings may impart, 

I ne’er have felt before. 

Chime on, O, Christmas bells, chime on I 
I love thy welcome sound : 

Forgive, O Lord, what I have done 
In sin the whole year round. 

Those angry words I spoke to friends 
Torment me even yet ; 


io6 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS, 


Help me, O Lord, to make amends, 

And then let me forget. 

Chime on, O, Christmas bells, chime on t 
Unite the hearts of friends; 

Bring back that joy that once our own 
And happiness it tends : 

And when the old year makes its halt„ 

Do let us then and there 
Lay off our sins and evr’y fault. 

New life begin with prayer. 


TH A NATOS, 


O’er nature’s extended field 
I am a tyrant king ; 

Where I my giant sceptre wield,, 
No life can ever spring. 

E’en the flower, when I walk 
O’er earth with kingly tread,. 

If by chance I touch its stalk 
It at my feet falls dead. 

I chase the birds of the wood 
And kill them just for fun ; 

They hide, but they nfever could 
My presence ever shun. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


107/ 


I break up the squirrel’s den, 

Their happiness destroy ; 

And I the fleet reindeer then 
Into my arms decoy. 

I kiss the leaves on the trees, 

And never greived am I 
When their verdant beauty flees> 
And nature seems to die ; • 

For life it is that I haunt. 

In air, on land or sea ; 

And funer’l songs I chant — 
Farewell mortality ! ” 

Man I shall forever hate. 

(Between us but a pace). 

For since Adam’s lost estate 
I’m ever on his chase. 

I murder his babe — poor child ! — 
E’en on its mother’s breast ; 

Nor heed I screams pleading wWdt 
Nor grant his vain request ; 

But with the babe off I run, 
Making my mission brief. 
Looking backward just for fuii 
And smiling at his grief. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


?io8 


I visit the sick man’s bed, 

And to him I say Die ! ” 

A moment more and he’s dead, 
Such a monster am I. 

My strength can ne’er tell its own. 
For space will ne’er give room; 

I forced the God from his throne 
And shut him in the tomb. 

I the verdant fields disrobe, 

I conquer all the brave ; 

The air, the sea, e’en the globe 
I make as one great grave. 

Over earth on ev’ry hill 

I blow my pois’nous breath, 

And write on every house sill 
And ev’ry doorpost — Death. 



MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


10 ^ 


PROSE EDITION. 


SINK, SANK AND SUNK 


Once I had the pleasure of attending an 
entertainment in a Western metropolis. 
While there I met a young lady, who intro- 
duced herself as Miss Sink, and then pro- 
ceeded to chat away as familiarly as though 
we had been friends all of our lives. 

O, she knew that I was a young man of 
first society. She was so glad that I had 
been invited, and wished that I would visit 
her before leaving the city. Then she 
sighed, and asked me to take her up to the- 
cafe. 

Of course I could not refuse, and, offer- 
ing her my arm, we strolled out into the 
moonlight and up to the cafe. I told her 
that I had forgotten my pocket-book, and 
had only fifty cents with me ( but the truth 
was that I had only fifty cents in the world,. 


no 


MTD-DAV GLEANINGS. 


'-and owed already a wash bill of ten dollars, 
but I kept silent.) We entered the cafe, 
and she ordered oysters and cream until my 
bill amounted to a dollar. 

I got the manager to credit me, promis- 
ing to pay him next day. She sighed again, 
.and called me dear, and said she wanted to 
go home in a hack, and I, like a fool, rented 
one on a six-hour credit, and carried her 
home. 

At the door she left me, without saying 
good night. 

Next day I met her, and addressed her as. 
Miss Sink, but she replied that her name 
was Sank, and that she had' no inclination 
whatever to speak to strangers on the street, 
and so passed on. 

When next I met her she smiled sweetly, 
and addressed me as “Sunk.” I caught 
.the twinkle of her laughing eyes and knew 
that why she called herself “ Sink” at our 
first meeting was because she meant to sink 
me in debt. And when she sank the cream 
and oysters down her gullet, or sank back 
in a soft cushioned hack at my expense, she 
could afford to call herself “Sank.” Thus 
I turned out to be Mr. “ Sunk.” 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


1 1 1 


Since then I have not met Miss Sink, but 
whenever I see a girl too familiar with a lad 
at first sight methinks that she is certainly , 
Miss Sink, or some very close relation. If 
I see a girl give a lad a public insult, and 
turn up her nose and walk away without 
cause, I know that she is a Miss ^‘Sank.” 
And, if I see a young lady who will not 
go out with a young man unless he takes a 
hack for her, or can not pass a candy shop 
or cafe without stopping to make a pur- 
chase, methinks she must be Miss Sink or 
her sister. But when I see a young man 
forsaken by the ladies, and laughed at on 
the highways; methinks his name is ‘^Sunk.^^ 
And whenever I see a merchant over- 
anxious for someone to take shares with 
him in business, I fee! that he is Miss 
Sink’s papa, and the man who goes in with 
him will turn out to be Mr. ‘‘Sunk.” 

Or, when I see a man too anxious for 
public office, methinks him a man who will 
sink his paws into the public treasury if he 
gets a chance, and, with the money sank 

deep into his pockets, will flee to Canada ; 
and, of course, the treasury would be 
^‘Sunk.” 


I 12 


MIDDAY GLEANINGS. 


JUDGE SPARROW COURT, 


One spring, while walking on the com- 
mons, my attention was attracted by two 
small humming-birds that were perched on 
the back of an old seat, and seemed deeply 
interested in something on the ground 
below. 

I approached within a yard of them, but 
they seemed too deeply interested to be 
aware of my presence. 

Just then a strange chattering noise from 
the ground near them made me look sharply 
in that direction, and I saw what I supposed 
to be all the insects of the world collected 
in that quarter. 

Drawing near I saw monopeds, bipeds, 
tripeds, quadrupeds, centipeds, millepeds, 
cephalapeds, and all other kinds of peds ; 
and each seemed equally interested in some- 
thing that was taking place in the centre of 
the circle. 

I cast a glance in that direction and saw a 
giant spider pushing up his sleeves and pre- 
paring to fight a little black ant no larger 
than his great toe. The ant seemed very 


MID-DAV GLEANINGS. j_i3 

unwilling to fight one so much larger than 
he ; but a busy, fuss-making fly, took the 
ring and urged on the fight. 

Go on him, I tell you. If he is bigger 
than you, that is nothing, for you can whip 
him any way.” 

Then he would run behind the spider and 
push him forward, saying : 

Go on him ! for you can whip that lit- 
tle ant, for I can myself.” And then he 
would throw the ant forward and cry : 

Take him, I tell you, take him !” Then 
all the insects began to yell, and an old 
dirt-dobber clapped his hands and shouted 
so that I thought he would twist himself in 
two. Then the spider made a mark and 
forbade the ant to cross it. 

The ant, who by this time had become 
enraged, forbade the spider to cross his own 
mark. In a’ twinkling the spider was over 
the mark and upon the ant. Then the fight 
began. Now the spider, then the ant. 
Over and under, under and over, till the 
insects huddled together and took bets on 
the fight. 

ril bet on the ant,” said the dirt-dobber. 

I’ll bet on the spider,” said the snail. • 


114 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


And I, too,” said the wasp. 

ril bet on the ant,” said the worm. 

And I on the spider,” said the beetle. 
Well,” said daddy long-legs, “ Til take 
bets on them both, and surely one of them 
will win.” 

And so the bets went around and the 
humming-birds were to hold the stakes. 
The fly in the meanwhile was urging on the 
fight, and now and then would cry, I told 
you so ! Don’t that little man kick! 1 knew 
that he would whip the spider, but I only 
wanted to see the fight : ha, ha, ha; hurrah 
for the ant! ” 

Just then the spider, enraged because he 
could not whip the ant, turned upon the fly 
.and gave him a mortal wound in his side 
with his dagger. - Thus fell the fly that 
urged on the fight. The other insects be- 
rgan to yell and to turn about for the stake- 
iholders, but the humming-birds had flown 
.and no trace of them could be found. Then 
;an all-round fight was engaged in by the 
Ibettors, while the little ant slipped out and 
^told police sparrow that an insurrection had 
ibeen raised on the commons. And he went 
dowu and arrested the rioters and took 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 115 

them before Judge Sparrow’s court, I fol- 
lowed them to the court and found a half- 
dozen half-starved English sparrows reading 
the Code of England, and who called them- 
selves lawyers, while Judge Sparrow re- 
clined in a great arm chair and looked over 
his spectacles at the criminals. 

After a jury had been summoned the 
•spider was brought forward under a charge 
of murder, but he turned State’s evidence 
against the crowd that urged on the fight. 
Then the Jurors retired to render their ver- 
dict. They soon returned with a verdict — 
Guilty of complicated crime.” 

Then the attorney went to the library and 
brought out a large book which he called 
Treaty on Complications, ” and read to 
the judge thus : If any bug or insect of any 

nationality or country be found guilty of 
complicated crime, and said bug or insect 
be under the sparrow government at the 
time when the crime is committed, it shall 
be turned over to the sparrow court and de- 
voured by the lawyers. ” 

These words had scarcely fallen from the 
attorney’s lips when the half-starved law- 
yers leaped over the table and began to d e 


1 16 


MID-DAY* GLEANINGS. 

0 


vour the poor insects, while the judge, 
thinking that if he tarried none would be 
left for himself, turned over his chair, broke 
his spectacles and joined in the feast with 
much avidity. 

I left the court, fully assured that when I 
see a crowd of boysor'men urging others to 
fight there will be a complicated crime com- 
mitted. 

And when one is too easily persuaded to- 
have a law suit over what he might settle 
peaceably, it is sure to turn out to be a com. 
plicated affair, and the complainant turned 
over to Judge Sparrow’s court to be de- 
voured by some' lawyer. 



MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


117 


I 




TOM STITZLEWEED, 


Once there lived in the neighborhood of 
Memphis a youth by the name of Tom. His 
parents were of a good family and deter- 
mined to raise little Tom to some great 
prominence if it were possible to do so. 
Forthwith they exhausted all their little sav- 
ings to provide Tom with books and paper, 
such as suited best. He learned rapidly, 
and was much carried away with the history 
of great men, so much so that he deter- 
mined himself to become one of them. But 
which would he be ? 

The question puzzled him very much, for 
he found his little head quite overrun with 
ideas. 

At last he determined to learn French and 
become a consul for his country. No sooner 
decided than commenced. He learned 
French without the aid of a teacher and 
with astonishing rapidity. In fact, within a 
few years he was able to read French news- 
papers with as much ease as a little boy can 
rob a swallows nest. This accomplished, 
he thought himself fit for office, and at once 


Ii8 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


began to discuss the name that he would 
assume, for all great men must have great 
names, and he decided upon ‘^Stitzleweed,’^ 
which he thought as foreign as harmonious. 
This done, he sat down and wrote a letter 
to the President, thus : — 

Foret Coline, Jan. ist, 19th Century. 

^^Dear Sir : — I demand your highness to 
take the lofty ascension to the extent of 
building a new fleet to send my unequaled 
excellence as consul to France. Demands 
rapid movement on the part of your high- 
ness. I remain. Very Respectable, 
‘‘Sir Thomas Stitzleweed, 

Bachelor of all Trades.’’ 

When this was received the President was 

so astonished that for a long time he knew 

not what to do, and for all I know he is as- 

» 

tonished yet. However, Tom did not seem 
much disappointed when he received no 
•answer from his highness, and only said : 
‘‘Just what 1 expected; another one of 
those low-bred, uneducated fellows, who 
can’t read good writing when he gets it. I 
don’t want to be consul, anyway; it’s too 
low a station for me ; besides Pm born for 
a New York merchant.” 


MID-DAV GLEANING^. 119 

He thought surejthat he could make such 
a successful merchant that all the world 
would be astonished at his fame ; so at once 
he set to work to decide upon his line of 
business. He finally decided to deal in 
lamps, wicks and watch cords; but in order 
to carry out his plans it was necessary to 
have a machine; therefore he resorted at 
once to his library to look over some circu- 
lars of the most noted firms in New York. 

At last he saw an advertisement of the 
Glove Novelty Co. of a toy Knitting Ma- 
chine. “This,” said he, “is the very thing, 
and ril send for it at once.” So saying he 
sent a post-haste message to the company, 
and then hurried to tell his sweetheart of 
his plans. “You are as crazy as a bed 
bug,” said she; “don’t tell me anything 
about it.” “Just wait till I tell you some- 
thing about it, won’t you?” said Tom. 
“Why, my dear, it will knit at least 1,000 
wicks per second, and I will sell them at 
five for a nickel and realize no less than 
$200 per second, you see, and you will wear 
imported silks and diamond crowns and live 
in a castle of pure gold, and be called Mrs. 
L idy Stitzleweed, Batcheloress of all trades.” 


I :o 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


Elated at this, she consented to give the 
work a trial, and Tom went home happier 
than ever. 

In a few davs the machine came. It was 
a small spool with four pins driven in the 
end, and a little hole in the middle about 
large enough for a bedbug to crawl through. 

Tom scrutinized it closely, and then be- 
gan hunting some directions how to use it, 
and finding none, exclaimed, ‘‘Ah! they 
knew I was an inventor, and that’s why 
they didn’t send me any of their nonsense. 
Weil, I am going to invent a plan for using 
it; ” and he tugged away and tugged away, 
from rosy morn till close of day, and yet no 
means did he invent for the use of his ma- 
chine. Month after month passed till six 
months had gone and yet Tom had invented 
no means for the use of his machine. 

At last he carried it to his sweetheart to 
ask her aid in making it knit. She was dis- 
gusted with the machine and thought her 
chance for a gold palace very poor, but she 
said nothing, and set to work with it, and in 
a few minutes had knitted a nice cord. 

“Sarah,” exclaimed Tom, “I knew that 
your head was level, and you will be the 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


I2I 


making of me yet.” Thus saying, he re- 
paired to his own house to commence his 
business. An old dilapidated stable was 
chosen for the storehouse, and the trough 
was taken for his work-bench. This done, 
he was ready to commence. 

He hung out a long sign, which read thus • 


Sir Thomas Stitzleweed, A. B. T. ^ 
^ Wliolesale Dealer in 

I^LAMPWICKS AND WATCHCOR DS. I 


He set to work, thinking meanwhile that 
in a few moments he would see his store 
house over-run with lampwicks and cord, 
but he toiled away and fumed and raged 
but could not increase the work of his ma- 
chine. Six months passed again and Christ- 
mas came and Sarah wanted a Christmas 
present but poor Tom had exhausted all his 
money with what he called — ^‘that con- 
founded machine,” and had knitted but 
three wicks which he could not sell or even 
give away if he tried. 

The passers-by laughed him to scorn and 
he became miserable. At last he decided 


122 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


to run it by steam ; therefore he dug a large 
hole in the ground, filled it with powder, 
charged the fuse with cotton which he 
lighted, and placing the machine over the 
hole, waited for consequent action. Alas 
for poor 'Tom ! His boiler exploded and 
carried his machine like lightning towards 
the moon, and it never came down again; 
and for all I know it is up there still, knit- 
ting lamp-wicks for the man in the moon. 
He at once concluded that he was not born 
for such a low station as a merhant and 
decided at once to become a stenographer 
and telegraph operator. He thought that 
sure he would be successful in that; and at 
once began the study. He provided him- 
self with a “MORSE-SNAPPER” with 
which he had but small success, and on the 
part of stenography, he learned nothing: 
but he thought himself the wisest man in the 
world in that profession. 

One day he decided to try his new 
“snapper” on the public telegraph line. No 
sooner decided than done. Now the snap- 
per was only a piece of thin iron in shape 
of a frog, but Tom thought it wonderful and 
tried to attach it to the “main line.” To do 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 1237 

this he had to throw it upward of about fifty^ 
feet. This he did time after time but each 
time it came to the ground again, till at last 
it hung among the wires and Tom could, 
not get it down again, and he climbed and 
chunked and threw sticks against the wires- 
but the ‘‘snapper” hung there apparently un- 
conscious of Tom^s threats until he grew 
tired and went home. . And for all I know 
it is still hanging there sending dispatches 
to Washington. But our young man (for 
such he was) was not disposed to give up so- 
eaisly, and said : “It was a cheap machine 
and I shall get a better;” and he did. He 
secured a perfect machine with full set of 
batteries and repaired to one of the city 
schools of which he was a pupil and obtain- 
ed permission from the Professor, to stretch 
his telegraph line from the window of the 
school to an outer house in the school yard. 

This done he entered an alliance with a. 
friend who was to bear half the expense, ^ 
and in a few days a sign went up bearing; 
these illustrious names — 


H >4 


MID-DAY GLI!:ANINGS. 


Crankyboy & Stitzleweed. 
Telegraphers and Stenographers 




Then d'om repaired to his seat at the 
window and turning on the electricity, 
would send message after message to his 
friend in the outer house; not knowing what 
.he himself was doing, he wondered that if 
■his friend knew: therefore he would rush to 
the window and bawl out across the yard 
‘^Sayl partner did you understand that ? I 
wvrote S-a-m 1 ” 

Of course ^‘Crankyboy” understood it 
-after he was told, and he told Tom so. 
'Then he would retire to his seat for a few 
minutes, and would soon come running 
»to the door crying at the top of his voice, 
‘‘Say, pards ! did you understand that? I 
wrote--T-o-m and Tom would say yes, he 
understood it perfectly. 

But, unfortunate for Tom, just as he 
‘.hoped for success the monopoly fell through 
:and they were obliged to abandon their 
work. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


125; 


Sarah became so much disgusted at her 
sweetheart’s failure that she kicked him and 
married a well to do farmer and moved out 
of the country. This almost ran Tom crazy 
but he tried to bear with it, saying — ‘Tt’s 
sad but I can’t help it, and I should have 
known that I could never be a successful ste- 
nographer when my talent runs only in the: 
line of art.” He spoke truthfully for he had 
a wonderful talent in that line, but his 
paintings never amounted to much. He 
sallied forth out into the great wide world 
till he found another partner as equally 
given to building air castles as he. This- 
new friend was known by the name of Tom? 
Fizzleton and was as big a simpleton as 
Stitzleweed, so they entered an alliance ; 
Fizzleton as an inventor and Stitzleweed as. 
an artist. After providing themselves with 
necessary meterials and Stitzleweed with his 
lensless ‘‘Camera,” they were ready for bus- 
iness and opened up on one of the promi- 
nent streets of the city with this sign hanging, 
from the door : 


..•-1 26 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 




vStitzleweed, Fizzleton & Co. 
• Artists & Inventors. 




In a few days a country gentleman, 
seeing the sign, stopped to have his picture 
taken. ‘‘Bully for me!” said Stitzleweed, 
(to himself) “I shall have success right 
away.” (Then, addressing the stranger), 
“ Have a seat, sir ! What kind of a picture 
would you like, side view or full view ? — 
though I know what kind will suit you 
best. Sway your head back! Now, sir! 
Tuck your feet up, they might spoil a good 
picture. Now, sir ! All ready, here she 
goes.” And he produced an excellent pic- 
ture of the ceiling and a hole through 
which the stove pipe use to be, but no 
sign of the stranger. “Not a very good 
picture sir, but its all your fault because you 
were not elevated high enough. This 
machine will take an excellent picture of 
the man in the moon. Suppose that next 
time, sir, yoiucome through the back door of 
the moon and take your seat on the front 


MID-DAV GLEANINGS. 


127 


banisters; then 1 will be able to take a more 
perfect picture — How much do I charge 
you? O, nothing for the picture sir, only a 
dollar for my trouble — Good day I” He 
retired to his private office. In a few mo- 
ments there came another knock at the door. 

My gracious, shouted he, Fll be worked to 
death in one 'day! — Come in 1 — Be seated ! 
Do you want a picture taken, sir? -Well, 
climb up on the step-ladder there, so that 
you may be high enough — Now, sir — All 
right — Here she goes !” And he produced 
a picture of the man’s feet. Not a good 
picture, sir ; but not my fault — See ? Your 
feet are too large. They hide your whole 
body! — O, the body is there; yes, sir, if 
you could only get over behind those feet 
to see it. What do I charge ? only two 
dollars, sir I” ‘^Two dollars!” exclaimed 
the astonished visitor. Yes, sir ; why that 
is cheap for those two big feet Thank you, 
sir — Good day ! Meanwhile Fizzleton was 
busy in his office inventing rubber stamps 
and patent door-bells. ‘'Come in!” said 
he as some one knocked at the door. In a 
few moments a visitor entered and asked to 
see some of his inventions. “ With pleas- 


128 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. " 


lire, sir ; here is the ninth wonder of the 
world !’’ (handing him a half-sided rubber 
stamp); I sell those at fifty dollars apiece. 
^‘Fifty dollars said the stranger, ‘‘why 
you ought to be very rich. How many 
have you sold?’’ “None yet; but I ex- 
pect to sell some. Look here 1” said he, 
(holding up a paper door-bell), “ this is the 
tenth wonder of the world. Why, sir ! this 
is the surest guard against theft and robbery 
ever invented. If you hang it on the door 
at night and a thief ventures into the hoiise^ 
it will run all over the place squalling ^thiel! 
thief! burglar! robber! and so on.” 

“Well, I do declare!” said the stranger,, 
you ought to send it to Washington and 
get it patent righted.” “ Well, said Fizzle- 
ton, “I had not thought of that but I’li 
send it up to the President right away^ 
Much oblige to you, sir. Good day ! 
And he did send it to the President that 
very same day ; but he received no reply ; 
and for all I know, if the President did not 
light his pipe with it, it is up there yet. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


129 


CHAPTER II. 

Next morning the city authorities broke 
up the firm of Stitzleweed & Fizzleton 
under the charge of “Pretense,” and the 
young men had to resort to other means for 
making their living. Their ingenuity soon 
devised a plan and they at once became 
actors on the stage. 

Stitzleweed was to traverse the country 
giving Concerts and Bible Sceneries while 
Fizzleton canvassed the city with theatricals 
and “minstral-plays. ” Many suns set in 
the cloudbanks of the west and many moons 
rose in the heavens to look down with pity 
upon the two unfortunate Toms, and the 
thunder-heads in the far away sky wept so 
bitterlv that tears fell like showers of rain* 
and yet Stitzleweed tugged on in the coun- 
try, sometimes in mud up to his shins and 
sometimes abused and disappointed till six 
months wore away without success, and Fiz- 
zleton in the town, who had spent six 
months in getting up a play called “Es- 
meralda,” in which he was sure of making 
over forty thousand dollars, had failed to 
make even forty cents. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 




This convinced them that they were not 
born for stage actors and they decided to 
marry before they became, too old. No 
sooner decided than courtship commmenced. 
They took ‘‘Crankyboy” into their employ as 
manager of private notes, etc. This done 
they hung out the sign — 


Stitzleweed, Fizzleton, Crankyboy & Co. 




Wholesale, Commission and Retail Merchants, 

Dealers in 

Courtships, Marriages, etc. 


rm-Ty— 


Then as Crankyboy was not to go along 
with them they decided to have their visit- 
ing cards struck thus : — 



STITZELWEED & FIZZLETON, 
COURTSHIP CHUMS. 




This done, they set out together to see a 
'girl on whom they were both smitten. 
They would go and sit for hours looking at 
her and playing with the children without 
saying a word, then go home thinking that 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 



they had had a big evening, and they would 
often send valuable presents in such abun- 
dance that the girl had to send them back. 
One evening on meeting her at a public 
gathering, they wished to see her home and 
wrote to her : 

Fair Lady : 

Shall we have the blissful felicity of your 
graceful condecension to the extent of allow- 
ing our royal excellence to perambulate in 
close proximinity to your angelic presence — 
ma’am? Yours, S. , F. & Co.” 

To this note they received no reply but 
they thought it was because they had no 
buggy ; SO they decided next time to carry 
a buggy. Fizzleton had an old horse 
which was so poor that the people of that 
vicinity had named him Soap-Sticks because 
they had been waiting for him to die, that 
they might make soap out of him. So after 
borrowing and old buggy from a neighbor, 
they hitched Soap-sticks to it and led him 
around to the girl’s house. Fizzleton and 
the girl got into the dilpidated old cart and 
said, ‘‘go along Soap-sticks;” but Soap-sticks 
could not be bribed and he didn’t move a 
step, so Stitzleweed had to walk before him 


132 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


and shake a bundle of fodder at him in 
order to coax him along. They had not 
gone many paces before the shay broke 
through at the bottom and the wheels took 
a notion to go in different directions and 
down different streets, while ‘‘Soap-Sticks’^ 
climbed an elevated yard and began to graze 
with increasing appetite, leaving Fizzleton 
and the girl sitting in the mud in the middle 
of the street, and Stitzleweed standing dum- 
founded looking on with horror, till a police- 
man came along and arrested them for a * 
nuisance. The girl swore by the days of 

earth that she would break the first one’s 
head with the baby crib that "darkened her 
door after that ; and thus they parted. Be- 
ing disgusted at so many failures they dis- 
solved partnership ; and the last I heard of 
them, “Soap-Sticks” had gone with the buz- 
zards on a trip to the moon, Crankyboy had 
entered an academy for learning, Fizzleton 
was ranking under the title of ’fessor in an 
industrial school and Stitzleweed was trying 

to be a jack-leg preacher, and for all I know 
he is still preaching to the heathens on the 
shores of Africa, and may continue preach- 
ing till “Soap-Sticks” gets back from the 
moon. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


T ^ ^ 


A BACKWOOnS STORY. 


One day as Uncle Alf Jennings sat in 
front of my school room busy making bask- 
ets for his neighbors, I left the children for 
a few minutes to themselves to have a pleas- 
ant chat with this busy old basket-maker. 
^‘Uncle Alf,” said I, approaching him, will 
you tell me a story of your past life ?” 

The old gentleman looked up with a 
smile and said slowly. “It will give me 
great pleasure indeed if you will be seated;” 
and he twisted a stool around for me to sit 
on, then laying down his pipe and pushing 
away his basket began his story in true 
western style. 

“One October’s evening as the full moon 
rose in the East and the stars began to 
twinkle over head in South Eastern Mis- 
souri. I left my home to carry a message to 
Jasper some ten miles away. 

“The route was a perilous one because the 
country had not been settled and the woods 
were filled with wild and fierce animals. 
For this reason I armed myself with a revol- 
ver, a bowie and a club and set out on my 


134 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


journery. I was a young man then and 
could run about as swift as any Texas pony ; 
therefore, I had decided, if I should be at- 
tacked, to display my talent as a runner, 
and, if caught, to fight it out like a man. 
My path led me across a two-mile stretch 
of prairie to a dark and dismal heath. I 
kept a sharp lookout for wolves and was 
nearly across a two-mile stretch of prairie 
when suddenly I saw directly before me, 
in the light of the moon, a lean, lanky 
creature who was slowly approaching me, 
but feigned unconsciousness of my approach. 
I stopped long enough to see what it was — 
a wolf — then drew my club and waited his 
approach. On he came within ten feet of 
me, then raising his head as though he had 
just known of my presence, rushed at my 
throat. I received him with a blow from 
iiiy club which doubled him up in the tall 
prairie grass, but in a second he was up and, 
like a flash, he went by me, carrying a large 
piece of my pantaloons with him ; and be- 
fore I could prepare to strike he came back 
for another piece. This time I ran after 
him and dealt him such blows on the shank 
with my club that he turned with fury upon 


^35 


MID-DAY Gl.EANlNGS. 


me and went again for my throat, but then 
I began to display so much skill as a wolf- 
fighter that he retired to a little hill and 
began a howl for reinforcement. I knew 
if I should tarry longer the prairie would 
be black with wolves. Not far away I 
heard the sound of the hunter’s horn and 
hastened in that direction. I soon found 
the hunter and told him my stury. Even 
then the wolf could be heard howling 
from the hill. After listening to my story 
the hunter hastened to give chase to the 
wolf. I waited a few minutes to determine 
the direction in which the wolf was fleeing. 
Wlien I knew he had taken the opposite di- 
rection I proceeded to enter the heath. It 
was a low woodland, some seven miles in 
breadth and thickly covered with under 
shrub and branches, while the moon beams, 
stealing .softly through the tree-tops and 
falling upon the shrub-berry bushes, cast 
fantastic shadows along my pathway, and 
the scream of the night-hawk, the howl of 
the wolf, the whoop of the panther or the 
cry of the catamount sent daggers of fear 
through me. I kept on my course for sev- 
eral miles when I met a cavalcade of pion- 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


eers, who, after learning where I was going, 
declared I would never make it — ‘for just 
across the woods,’ said they, ‘there is a 
panther as large as a Texas pony, and has 
been following us for more than three miles. 
It has just turned off at the west fork of the 
road ; but if you think you can make it, go 
ahead, and good luck to you.’ 

“They galloped on, and I hastened for- 
ward, keeping a sharp look-out on either 
side for the panther. 

“Luckily I reached the clearing without 
meeting with any encounter, and just a mile 
in the distance the glimmering lights of 
Jasper burst upon my vision, while just be- 
yond, some hundred yards, full in the light 
of the moon, 1 could see the dwelling house 
of a farmer. Inspired with new courage, 
and thinking that all danger was now 
passed, I walked leisurely along, admiring 
the pearls of a shadowy night and watching 
the stars swinging in their orbits, leaving be- 
hind them the most brilliant arcs of light. 
For fully half an hour I amused myself thus 
and had gone just twenty yards beyond the 
farmer’s house when the dogs broke out and 
rushed pell-mell toward the road. At first 


MID-DAV GLEANINGS. 


137 


I thought them to be after me, but on turn- 
ing around I saw, not twenty yards behind 
me an object, which at first I took to be a 
colt, but on second sight I recognized it as 
a panther. He turned in quick warfare 
with the dogs ; but I, who never liked war, 
did not wait to see who would be the 
victors, but turned and fled, hat in hand, 
across the clearing towards Jasper. The 
faint, glimmering lights in the distance 
grew brighter and brighter till now they 
seemed to be flying towards me with won- 
derful rapidity, till I was within twenty 
yards of the village store, when the door 
flew open and the keeper, in the door, cried 
out to me : ‘ Hasten ! for not fifty yards 

behind is a panther in hot pursuit.’ I put 
forth my best efforts in trying to reach the 
store, but strength had almost failed me and 
the panther was not twenty yards behind 
me. I made one leap and fell helpless in 
the door. The keeper dragged me in and 
shut the door just as Jhe panther leaped 
with full force against it; then he went to 
the window and fired a fatal shot, striking 
the panther in the left eye. There was an 
awful cry and growling, and I crept to the 


138 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


window in time to see him leap some ten 
feet into the air, and then, after turning 
around and around like a kitten trying to 
play with its tail, he set off at full speed to- 
wards the clearing, but dropped down dead 
in about fifty yards from the store. That 
night I slept soundly, and the next morn- 
ing, in company with the people of Jasper, 
we went out to look at the panther. He 
was about fifteen feet in length and weighed 
six hundred pounds. When the people 
heard my story they gave me an applause 
and said that my journey through the heath 
was a daring one that no young man of that 

day would dare undertake alone.” 

* # # * * 

When the old gentleman had finished he 
resumed his pipe and returned to his work.- 
I gave him my hand and thanked him ; then 
returned to the school-room much interested 
in the. old man’s story. 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


139 ^ 


A MID- O CEAN S TOR K 


It was in mid-autumn of 1856, that a 
cruising vessel left New Orleans, on a cruis- 
ing expedition along the cost of the At- 
lantic. On board of the ship went a col- 
ored lad as assistant fireman. This lad, 
whose name was George Bassad, was a 
youth of great dexterity besides having a 
fair knowledge of steam machinery. 

Not withstanding that the ship had been 
examined and declared to be perfectly safe 
by an old ship-builder, George found fault 
with the machinery and said it would not 
do to trust. At this the cruisers laughed 
and said that they wanted none of his ad- 
vice. So George said no more and went 
‘ very reluctantly at his work, always keep- 
ing a sharp lookout for accidents. 

They sailed out of the gulf at a speed of 
fourteen knots till they were on the broad 
and deep Atlantic. Then the captain or* 
dered the sails to be loweied and the ves- 
sel ploughed smoothly and slowly along the 
coast of the United States, then set sail for 
mid-ocean, bound for the South-Sea Islands.- 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


*340 

For eight days they sailed under the clear, 
blue skies of the tropics, and every heart 
.seemed elated with joy and every voice ut- 
tered words of cheer. On the ninth day 
.^the sails were again lowered and the ship 
;ploughed along in mid-ocean. Everybody 
wore a smiling face except George, who 
was carefully inspecting the boiler. While 
Ee was thus engaged a covey of small birds, 
dike paraquets, settled upon the rear of the 
vessel and hid behind the riggings. This 
was observed by the superstitious captain, 
who at once went to look at the barometer, 
.and finding that it indicated an approach- 
ing tempest, ordered the sails to be hoisted 
.and preparation to be made to outstrip a 
storm. The riggings were soon in order 
:rand the ship moved off at a speed of nine 
deagues an hour. In a few moments the 
‘Southern sky was blackened like unto mid- 
night and the ligtning was seen playing 
along the horizon. It was evident that the 
storm was pursuing them at a rate less than 
eight -leagues per hour, for soon they had 
dost sight of the clouds and all seemed calm 
.and sunshine again. 

The sun was just setting along the west- 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


14E 


ern horizon and casting its golden wandi 
upon the waters, was changing them into 
fantastic temples and fairy palaces of chrys* 
tal gold, while from an eastern window 
the moon was hanging a shade of pearls 
when suddenly the captain shouted “ fly 
ahead.” This cry brought all hands to the 
deck, and everybody wished to know the 
trouble, when suddenly a dark cloud was- 
seen boiling up from the south. It was now 
evident that the storm was still pursuing 
them and at a madder rate than before. 
“ George, said the captain, what do you 
think of tlie boiler now ?” George only 
shook his head, for he had been looking for 
an explosion for more than three weeks. 
He moved away slowly to the edge of the 
deck, took up a bucket of water and walked; 
back towards the boiler. When within a 
few feet of the boiler he had a strange fore- 
boding of danger, and as quick as a flash 
threw himself on the floor. Not a moment 
too soon, for just then the boiler burst and 
the whole place was filled with hot and 
scalding steam. All those standing near 
when the boiler bursted were instantly killed,, 
except George, who was lying upon the floor 
and below the steam, still unhurt. When 
he arose from the floor he found the ship 
deserted and in a sinking condition, with 
no one aboard but himself and the mate, 
who was putting on a life preserver and 


^J4 i 


MIU-DAY GLEANINGS. 


preparing to jump overboard. ‘‘ Can you 
■swim?” he asked, as George approached.” 
^‘No,” came the answer, “but Til find 
means of escape. Where is the other part 
of the crew ?” “O, they left in the life- 

boat when the boiler first exlpoded,” said 
the mate ; “ but we all are lost, see!” and 
he pointed to a fierce storm raging within a 
half league of them. George could not 
swim and he realized his perilous condition, 
for the waters were even then rolling over 
the deck of the sinking ship. He grasped 
a p'ank that was filled with holes at either 
end and with a sharp knife cut pieces of 
rope from the mast riggings and made hand 
and foot holds in the ends of the plank, 
then catching his feet in the ropes at one 
end and his hands in the other, tumbled 
over-board into the dark and raging sea. 
He sank at first, but soon came to the sur- 
face, and working his hands and feet in the 
ropes made the plank dart forward with the 
rapidity of a racing yacht. The mate swam 
lightly along beside him. The heavens now 
wore one furious frown and the lightning 
played magical tricks in the shape of blaz- 
ing serpents not five fathoms above the 
water, while the sea raged and foamed and 
the mad waves leaped into the clouds and 
fell back with a deafening roar into the sea. 
But on sped George and the mate, some- 
times carried into the clouds and sometimes 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


143 


buried not less than ten fathoms below the 
sea. Several hours passed and then the sea 
was calm again and the two men floated 
quietly upon the surface of the waters. 
■“Are you safe. George ?” the mate shouted, 
as the plank floated near him. “ Safe as a 
monkey in the cocoanut grove of India,” 
said George, apparently at ease upon his 
plank. 

The stars were now racing along the hori- 
zon and the moon smiled serenely down 
from her palace of pearls upon the last of 
the cruisers, as they drifted together hither 
and thither upon the deep bed of the ocean. 
Suddenly another object fell upon their vis- 
ions — a light upon the waters was moving 
towards them. Both men speeded forward, 
deeply interested in the strange light. At 
last George shouted : “ It is a schooner and 
it is coming toward us ; we are safe ! thank 
God ! Oh, heavens ! we are safe !” 

In a few seconds long streams of light 
were cast upon the waters where they were 
lying, and then they heard a command on 
board to lower the boat, and in a few min- 
utes the dip of oars were heard approaching 
them. In a few seconds more they were 
hauled into the life-boat and carried into 
the ship. Then the captain told how that 
he had seen them floating, like chunks, upon 
the water, and after discovering that they 
were men, ordered the life-boat to be low- 


144 


MID-DAY GLEANINGS. 


ered ; but when he heard from the two men 
their story of the sunken ship and their per- 
ilous ride over the raging sea, he and all 
the crew were astonished and set out at 
once to rescue those who had escaped in 
the life-boat from the fatal ship. 

The schooner sped over the sea at a speed 
of eighteen knots for more than six hours, 
but no sign was seen 'of the little life-boat 
and its burden of precious freight. At noon 
the next day the captain gave up the search 
and set sail towards the north. After eight 
days rapid sailing the schooner anchored 
in the port of New Orleans. No news had 
been received of the lost crew and all 
agreed that the two picked up by the 
schooner were the last of the cruisers. They 
were put under the care of doctors till they 
were well and able to go to their homes. 
George Bassad is still alive and quite an 
old man. 

It was from his own lips that I learned 
this story. 



H is 



ii 






• 4 O 

' K ( 


kp 


o. .0 




^ ’V. - 




\v 

V -!,'i' 4f> 

5 * ♦ /k^' * 


A 

» *L!nL' 




o M O 


'j ><5 


■••Aoo /.c:^.\ 


: v<^^ 


" /..v 


• Or 0®"*t 


“ '^o V 


J-° 'n#*. « 


’ '^Ao« ; 

} ^ \ 

V O *• 


I 


V ♦‘I*®-* o 


: • 




'C*' aCt 

'*♦ , 6 ^ ‘li**, '^•, 


U* ■? 

* <V V 


0 ■S ^ 

0 * 


"»' a'?' 


t * o 


'•^- " ■ .... 


o H O 






A 


♦ ^ 


'•♦ *^0 

'»o ^ : 


o » A 



. 0 ^ O®"*^ 


J? - 7 “^ » 

, 1 • aO ^ 

^c.’ o 


o ^ 

• <L K O *■ ~'fAf/v - 1 

-Tv ^ ~ A ^ O ♦'«.•* 

® W ® aV > 1 a 

rs 


• / •» 




^ aP" ♦.WW+ ^ ^ 

® > • «• 

** V « 






v:*<^ 

» c ^ 0 ^ 1 

.»■'•-» (V . 0 - a . ^ 












y-* Ha 5-<J 

mafuti 

IgSJiBW; 


psfiiii 




pliilillt}pil% 


^ *Z»- 

in 




fMmi 





